Antara News·Indonesia·Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 03:38 AM

Bornean orangutan spotted three times along East Kalimantan road

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Nyaman BP, Rahmad Nasution

Sangatta, E Kalimantan (ANTARA) - A Bornean orangutan has been spotted foraging along the Sangatta-Rantau Pulung road, East Kutai District, East Kalimantan, three times, raising concerns about traffic risks to the protected species, a local resident said.

Resident Yuristio, who frequently travels the road, said he had seen orangutans there nearly three times.

“I've seen orangutans there almost three times. Sometimes they stay by the roadside, and sometimes they cross the road,” he said in Sangatta on Monday.

The protected Bornean orangutan, scientifically known as Pongo pygmaeus, was seen eating seeds and young leaves along the roadside.

The Sangatta-Rantau Pulung road runs near Kutai National Park, which is home to Bornean orangutans and where the animal was seen foraging, he said.

The orangutans typically appear along the roadside in the late afternoon. Their large bodies can resemble fallen tree trunks from a distance.

Passing vehicles raise concerns about traffic accidents involving the wild orangutans, he said.

“Vehicles usually have to stop and wait for the orangutan to cross the road or return to the forest,” he said.

An ANTARA team passing along the Sangatta-Rantau Pulung road on Monday afternoon saw a large reddish-brown Bornean orangutan.

The animal remained beside the road for more than 30 minutes, eating young leaves before returning to the forest.

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