Govt probes suspected orangutan skull found in palm oil plantation

Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry is investigating the discovery of a skull suspected to belong to a Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) inside a high conservation value area of a palm oil plantation in West Kalimantan, officials said Friday.

The remains were recovered on Oct. 8, 2026, in Ketapang Regency on a concession managed by PT KAL following a public tip-off, leading to an immediate field inspection and evacuation by wildlife authorities.

"We are currently focused on gathering facts, interviewing stakeholders, and preparing a forensic examination to determine the species of the animal, estimate the time and cause of death, and determine any indications of human action," Head of the ministry's Kalimantan Forestry Law Enforcement Agency Leonardo Gultom said.

Authorities noted that finding protected wildlife remains within a designated High Conservation Value (HCV) area—zones specifically set aside within commercial plantations to safeguard biodiversity corridors—raises critical regulatory concerns.

Director general of forestry law enforcement Dwi Januanto Nugroho emphasized that concession holders are legally obligated to maintain habitat integrity across their properties.

"Orangutans and protected wildlife do not recognize administrative boundaries or concessions. Therefore, every business actor whose activities overlap with wildlife habitat must be responsible to maintain the biodiversity protection function in accordance with applicable regulations," Nugroho said.

Ministry officials confirmed that any regulatory or criminal violations uncovered by the forensic investigation will face strict legal enforcement, alongside increased oversight of private conservation areas across the region.

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Translator: Prisca Triferna, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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