| dc.description.abstract | Orangutans are great apes native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia.
Acctually, they are found only in parts of the islands in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the
orangutan species is categorized as critically endangered. The threats of
deforestation, hunting, and orangutan trade have led to a decline in wild populations
within the forest. To protect and rescue orangutans, International Wildlife
Conservation Organizations, particularly orangutans, have agreed to protect these
animals. This issue led to the creation of an orangutan rehabilitation center. In light
of the aforementioned issues, the author conducted research to clearly understand
the background and process of the establishment of the Bahorok Orangutan
Rehabilitation Center, as well as its development.
This research employed historical research methods and a conservation ecology
approach (Primack 2014). The use of historical methods in research involves four
stages: heuristics, verification, interpretation, and historiography. This research
combination by the library research and field research. The author employed a
conservation ecology approach, which focuses on efforts to preserve and protect
ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources.
This research provides an overview of the Bahorok orangutan rehabilitation center.
The establishment of the Bahorok orangutan rehabilitation center was motivated by
hunting, trade, and habitat loss, which have resulted in a decline in the orangutan
population. In 1973, the Bahorok rehabilitation center was founded by two Swiss
zoologists, Regina Frey and Monica Borner. In 1975, Frey and Monica Borner
ceased running the rehabilitation project, and the center was taken over by Rosalind
and Conrad Aveling. Then, in 1980, the rehabilitation center was taken over by the
Indonesian government, under the leadership of Dr. Suharto Djojosudharmo. In
1982, the Bahorok Orangutan rehabilitation center functions were expanded to
include conservation education. Since then, tourism has grown rapidly, and over
time, conservation approaches have changed. In 1991, Orangutan rehabilitation in
Bahorok was halted. Afterward, the Sumatran Orangutan Observation Station
(SPOS) was established. Finally, in 1995, the Bahorok orangutan rehabilitation
center was officially closed by the Indonesian government due to various issues
such as the spread of disease, tourism activities, social disruption to wild
orangutans, and other problem. After the closure of the Bahorok Orangutan
rehabilitation center, this area was transformed into an ecotourism destination. The
rehabilitation program resulted in an increase in the orangutan population,
education, and adaptation for orangutans to survive in the wild in the TNGL area. | en_US |
