Orangutan Suvery Results, Socialised by GLNP Authority

According to the latest survey, approximately 1'500 Sumatra orangutans still inhabit the eastern part of the Gunung Leuser National Park. The survey is part of the Indonesian Action Plan for Orangutan Conservation.

The Gunung Leuser National Park Authority (Balai Besar Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser/BBTNGL) and UNESCO held a two-day workshop on „Socialisation of Survey Result on Orangutan Distribution and Density in the eastern part of Gunung Leuser National Park" in Hotel Semarak Medan, North Sumatra, from 7 to 8 June 2010. Five resource persons presented various issues related to the recent survey: Dr. Serge Wich from PanEco/YEL presented the "Results of Surveys on Orangutan Distribution and Density in the Eastern Part of Gunung Leuser National Park," Mr. Sunjaya (YAPEKA) talked about "Local Knowledge on Orangutan Among Neighboring Communities of the GLNP," Ms. Rina Purwaningsih (UNESCO) talked on "Spatial Analysis of Orangutan Conflict in GLNP," Mr. Harijoko (BBTNGL) on "Collaborative Management based on Forestry Ministry No. 19/2004 regarding  Management Collaboration of National Part," and Mr. Djati Wicaksono (BBKSDA) on "Progress on Preparation of Provincial decree of Human-Wildlife Conflict Coordination in North Sumatra."

In his presentation, Dr. Serge Wich gave an overview of the survey result, which was a joint activity between PanEco, its partner Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari and UNESCO in a six month survey in the eastern part of Gunung Leuser National Park. He said, that the preliminary analyses of the data indicate that the area below 1,500 meters asl in the eastern part of the National Park contains between 1065 to 1817 individuals of the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii). The survey was held using the most current available methods. Prior to the survey, a comprehensive training was held in Bohorok, Langkat. National and international experts were invited as trainers. Nevertheless it is important to realize that the numbers are preliminary and will change once the complete set of surveys in the East and Western part of the Gunung Leuser National Park have been completed.

The orangutan survey in the eastern part of GLNP is the first phase survey which PanEco and YEL conducted in cooperation with UNESCO, the Government of Spain and the GLNP. The first phase survey, which was co-managed by Dr. Ian Singleton and Serge Wich, was carried out from October 2009 to March 2010. The second phase survey started in June and will last until November 2010. "When the two phase survey is completely done, the GLNP will be the first National Park in Indonesia to posses the a comprehensive database on the orangutan," Serge said.

The survey and workshop are part of the GLNP activity in implementing the Strategy and Action Plan for Orangutan Conservation in Indonesia 2007 – 2017 in Sumatra. The 33 participants were mostly from  NGOs, but also from UNESCO and government agencies including the Gunung Leuser National Park,  Forestry Service in Langkat Sub-district, Orangutan Information Centre OIC, Yayasan Pembelajaran Konservasi Alam (YAPEKA), Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari (YEL), Conservation International Indonesia Program (CIIP), North Sumatera University (USU), World Conservation Society (WCS), Yayasan Leuser International (YLI), Fauna and Flora International (FFI), Balai Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam Sumatera Utara (BBKSDASU). The participants of the workshop also provided recommendations on who to mitigate conflict pertaining to the GLNP.