Soon the Baktikop forest will have few more inhabitants. According to Willie Smith, founder of BOS (Borneo Orangutan Survival) Foundation (as reported in ANTARA News), the Forestry Ministry will allow for about 200 orangutans to be released to the protected Baktikop forest in early 2007.
The Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Center in Central Kalimantan has been caring for these orangutans since they were seized in Semarang, Yogyakarta, Bandung, and Sukabumi, where many were exploited for entertainment. The success of nursing the orangutans back from poor health and releasing them will open up much needed space at Nyaru Menteng for those in need.
Kambiz said:
Have you seen Jeff Corwin’s special on “The Orangutan Freedom Journey”?
I know his show is catered to the younger crowd but I actually watched it the other day and it was informative. Also his show is not about Orangs in Borneo, rather the ones in Indonesia.
I liked it because it showed me the extensive care the teams went to rehabilitate Orangs. It was very impressive. I think it is on Season #3 and episode 8. Alternatively, if you are a fan of Orangs, Jeff Corwin or want a video of rehabilitating orangutans, buy the episode on DVD from Amazon.com.
Betsy Herrelko said:
No I haven’t seen “The Orangutan Freedom Journey,” but I am a fan of orangs… I’ll have to check it out.
Thanks for the tip.
Hannah Barlow said:
The part of Borneo (Kalimantan) where the BOS orangutans will be released IS within Indonesia… by the way, ‘orang’ just means ‘person’ -‘orangutan’ derives from ‘orang-hutan’ which means ‘person of the forest’.
Kambiz said:
Oops, thanks for the clarification Hannah. I appreciate the input but I’ve seen and used “orangs” with more than one person who works with these primates and it was not an issue.
I’m curious as to what you are really trying to point out?
Betsy Herrelko said:
Hi Hannah, Thanks for bringing up the derivation of orangutan. It’s interesting to see different takes on the appropriate usage of the term. In formal settings I’ve typically seen the full word, orangutan(s), while in informal settings I’ve frequently seen (and heard) the simplified version, orang(s). In a very brief database search (PsycINFO), I searched for the use of orang and found a few publications that use it in the title and/or text (not many, but a few that surprised me nonetheless)… a well represented line-up of articles over the years suggesting that it’s not an antiquated term.
Pingback: When 48 becomes 50: two baby orangutans at Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Center « Primatology.org