MOZA’S JOURNEY FROM KUWAIT TO MOTHERHOOD ON KAJA ISLAND
On September 13, 2015, a two-year-old female orangutan began a long journey back to Indonesia. The young orangutan was later named Moza.
The Salat Island Cluster has been inundated with flood water after heavy rain, which caused floods in several parts of Kalimantan. Continuous monitoring efforts are being made to keep the orangutans safe on their island’s homes.
For the past few days, three out of five provinces in Kalimantan have been hit by heavy floods. In Central Kalimantan alone, six regencies, including the provincial capital, Palangkaraya have been impacted by the floodwaters since last week, affecting thousands of people.
The Salat islands in the District of Pulang Pisau, surrounded by a large river, experienced severe flooding due to the high and persistent levels of rainfall. Most of the 2,089-hectare island cluster is currently under water.
The teams of technicians immediately responded to this extreme flooding and started to monitor the situation on all islands, including on Badak Besar Pre-Release Island and on Badak Kecil Sanctuary Island.
Hermansyah from the Communications team shared, “Our staff has been on-site since the beginning of the floods to deal with the rising waters and constantly changing conditions. We are all mobilized.” Luckily, none of the island facilities have suffered any structural damage so far. As the water levels have only now started to drop, the teams will need time to assess potential damage, he added.
To date, it does not appear that the flooding is causing any issues for the island inhabitants, but the teams are monitoring the conditions daily. “We are relieved that food can still easily be provided as the platforms have not been affected by the floods”, Hermansyah added.
Meanwhile, the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre which is located outside the capital city of Palangka Raya has been slightly impacted by the floods as well. Water came into the several accommodation units around the centre, which contain sleeping rooms for our staff.
In the Mawas Conservation Area, where the BOS Foundation carries out numerous reforestation, community development, and wild orangutan protection projects, flooding has been widespread as well. Even getting to the working area is a challenge as roadways now require a boat to transverse, leaving cars ineffective with the rushing waters.
Across the 306,000-ha area, the water levels vary, but at several of our monitoring stations, from Rantau Upak to Camp Release, the water looms only a few centimeters away from overtaking the floors. In many of the local villages, including Tumbang Muroi, Tumbang Mangkutub, Batampang, Batilap, Mangkatip, and Sungai Jaya, the residents have been forced to deal with the rising waters in their own homes. In response, our community development teams have halted their usual activities to assist with flood management.
Across provincial lines in East Kalimantan, no further damage or land erosion has been reported from the BOS Foundation program sites. While our flooding mitigation efforts will remain focused on Central Kalimantan, our teams are grateful to see the waters starting to recede in many locations. However, weather conditions during the rainy season can be unpredictable and extreme weather events are becoming more commonplace as the effects of climate change are being demonstrated clearly. Our teams will stay vigilant to protect the orangutans and support the communities because we are all on this planet together and it is one future we share.
ABOUT THE SALAT ISLANDS
A 2,089-hectare island cluster includes Badak Besar Island (496 hectares) and Badak Kecil (104 hectares), in the District of Pulang Pisau, in the province of Central Kalimantan. Here some orangutans take one step closer to freedom, while others find themselves in a safe forested, sanctuary where they can live out their lives with support from our team of technicians and veterinarians. In the whole island area, BOS Foundation currently takes care of over 30 orangutans.
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On September 13, 2015, a two-year-old female orangutan began a long journey back to Indonesia. The young orangutan was later named Moza.
In the Tuanan Research Station, wild male orangutans move through the canopy with remarkable strength and grace. Among them is Dayak: a majestic flanged male whose broad cheek pads signal maturity, dominance, and excellent health.
Roy, a young male orangutan estimated to be around two years old, is now undergoing rehabilitation at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Central Kalimantan.
