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Officers from the West Kalimantan Natural Resource Conservation
Agency (BKSDA) rescued a young orangutan from a local house in Sintang
regency where it was being kept as a pet.
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The male 3-year-old orangutan named Andiki was bought by its owner
about a month ago, West Kalimantan BKSDA head Margo Utomo said on
Saturday.
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The owner told the agency personnel that the family bought the
orangutan when they were having a meal in the Simpang Pinoh area in
Makong.
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The agency received a tip off from local people about an orangutan
being kept as a pet and then went to look for more information.
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Besides rescuing the orangutan, BKSDA officers also disseminated
information on the 1990 Law on Natural Resources Conservation and
Ecosystem that prohibits the capture of endangered wildlife.
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"After we spoke to the owner, the officers rescued Andiki in
collaboration with the Sintang Orangutan Center," Margo said, as
reported by Kompas.com.
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The orangutan has been taken to the rehabilitation unit at the
Center's facility in Sintang before being released into its natural
habitat.
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Margo added that the agency has pushed for public awareness in
keeping the country's rich natural resources. The consumption of nature
must be in line with conservation efforts.
"Therefore we must stop the illegal trade and ownership of protected wildlife," he added.
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