Orangutan caught in snare as ‘sustainable’ palm oil company trashes forest

The medical team is working round the clock to save him. If he does survive, his hand and some of his arm will have to be amputated. Photo credit IAR.

April 2012. Large numbers of orangutans in West Kalimantan are dying because their forest home has been destroyed to make way for a palm oil plantation. Shockingly, the company behind the new plantation - PT KAL (Kayung Agro Lestari) from Austindo Nustantara Jaya Group - is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The RSPO was set up to promote the sustainable production and use of palm oil, and oil produced by member companies is marketed to consumers as environmentally friendly. However, numerous orangutans have been forced to flee into a small forest beside the new plantation and are dying of starvation or losing their lives in conflicts with nearby villagers.

Orangutan caught in a snare
The latest victim is a young male orangutan that was caught in a snare set to trap deer and wild boar. He had survived for ten days without food or water and was close to death by the time he was rescued by a team from International Animal Rescue (IAR) which runs an orangutan rescue centre in nearby Ketapang. The orangutan was caught by his right arm and had caused a horrific injury to his hand and wrist in his efforts to break free.

The rescue team, led by veterinary director Karmele Llano Sanchez, sedated the orangutan, freed him from the snare and gave him fluids for severe dehydration before transporting him back to IAR's clinic in Ketapang, West Kalimantan.

Critical condition
He was given the name Pelangsi, after the area where he was found. During the first forty-eight hours his condition remained critical and he wasn't stable enough to undergo surgery. He had contracted septicaemia as a result of the injury and infection in his hand. He continued to receive fluids intravenously and was also put on antibiotics and painkillers. The medical team is working round the clock to save him. If he does survive, his hand and some of his arm will have to be amputated.

The orangutan was caught in the trap - One of 60 set by a single trapper from a local village.

IAR's centre in Ketapang is already caring for three baby orangutans that were rescued from the PT KAL palm oil plantation and the team also tried unsuccessfully to rescue three more that were found there during land clearing operations. Clearly the company has no concern for the welfare of the wildlife living in the forest, in spite of its membership of the RSPO.

Karmele Llano Sanchez, IAR Veterinary Director, said: "Pelangsi's story is a graphic illustration of the fate of countless orangutans that are left homeless and hungry when the forest is cut down. Our rescue centre is now caring for 50 orangutans and that number will continue to rise rapidly until drastic measures are taken by the palm oil companies to protect orangutans and other wildlife from the devastating effects of their industry.

"Our team of Indonesian and European vets is working round the clock to save Pelangsi's life," she added. "I couldn't be more proud of the commitment and dedication they show to helping and healing the growing number of sick and injured animals in their care. Our thanks to Dr Adi, Dr Wendi, Dr Silje, Dr Richa, Dr Jesus and Dr Raul for all they are doing."