Indonesian Orang Numbers Drop From 35,000 To 20,000 In 9 Yrs - Xinhua

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AKARTA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The population of orangutan in Indonesia has decreased to 20,000 in 2006 from 35,000 in 1997, the Wildlife Conservation Society-Indonesia Program said on Saturday.

"In 2006, the population of orangutans in Indonesian forests is only around 20,000," the program staff Dwi Nugroho quoted by Antara news wire as saying. According to the 1996 data, there were around 35,000 orangutans in Indonesia, she said. Some 23,000 orangutans were found in Kalimantan, and the remaining 12,000 in Sumatra, Dwi added.

But, the 1997 forest fires drastically reduced the population of the species to about 27,000, comprising of 15,000 in Kalimantan island and 12,000 in Sumatra island.

The Wildlife Conservation Society-Indonesia Program has expressed its full support for orangutan conservation and rehabilitation in the country. Therefore, the environmental NGO encouraged the Indonesian government, especially the forestry ministry, to protect and breed the great Apes.

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