Putri Safira Pitaloka, Jakarta – Kelawasan Island in Teluk Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, has been officially designated as a protected area and will become the center for an orangutan sanctuary development project.
This project is the result of a collaboration between Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation (YAD), Nusantara Capital City Authority (IKN), and the Ministry of Forestry, as part of the conservation efforts for endemic Kalimantan wildlife amidst the development of the new national capital.
The Chairperson of YAD, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, explained that the sanctuary construction is specifically aimed at adult male orangutans that are no longer viable to be released into the wild.
"Many adult orangutans, if released, will surely die because it is difficult for them to find food. We provide a comfortable environment for adult orangutans in an open area, hence we chose Kelawasan Island," said Hashim during the inauguration of the sanctuary on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, as quoted from the IKN site.
Kelawasan Island covers an area of approximately 14 hectares and is now part of the Nusantara Capital City region. The area is considered to have high biodiversity and significant conservation value, making it suitable for the long-term development of orangutan habitats.
Facilities for orangutan activities
This orangutan sanctuary will be equipped with several supporting facilities designed to resemble natural environments. These facilities include shelters for protection, feeding platforms for daily food provisions equipped with water pools, and a feeding plus area that serves as a health care and examination space for the animals.
This sanctuary will not only serve as a permanent residence for dominant male orangutans that cannot be returned to the wild, but will also become an environmental education center for the wider community.
The presence of these facilities is expected to support the concept of a "forest city," which is the identity of IKN, a city that grows in harmony with nature and ensures the protection of local flora and fauna.
The Head of IKN Authority, Basuki Hadimuljono, expressed his appreciation for YAD's contribution.
"I express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation for this environmental initiative. Hopefully, this collaboration can be continued for the better," Basuki said on Thursday, April 10, 2025, as reported by Antara.
Concerns as a habitat destruction alibi
Although this project is seen as a positive step in conservation, some parties have voiced criticism. Greenpeace Indonesia, through the Forest Campaigner, Iqbal Damanik, expressed concerns that the existence of this sanctuary could be used as justification for the destruction of the remaining natural orangutan habitats in East Kalimantan.
"Often, the construction of sanctuaries becomes an argument that the effort to destroy orangutan habitats in the Kalimantan region is allowed, simply because there is a sanctuary," said Iqbal when contacted on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
He emphasized that the best protection for orangutans is to maintain their original habitat. Iqbal also highlighted the involvement of Hashim Djojohadikusumo, who he believes has a long history of control over industrial forest concessions in East Kalimantan.
"This could be seen as a way to absolve oneself of responsibility. Because Hashim's history in East Kalimantan cannot be separated from industrial forestry concessions, even before the initiation of IKN, which caused the destruction of orangutan habitats," he stated firmly.
According to Iqbal, if Hashim truly cares about the survival of orangutans, the primary step to be taken is not just building a sanctuary, but also restoring the damaged forest areas caused by industrial activities.
"The way to protect orangutans is by protecting their habitat. In the current context of Kalimantan, this becomes the responsibility of Hashim to take restorative actions," added Iqbal.
The development of the orangutan sanctuary on Kelawasan Island reflects an effort to balance the ambitions of the Nusantara Capital City development with environmental preservation. Despite receiving critical attention, this project is still considered a tangible form of private sector involvement in wildlife conservation efforts.
The sustainability of this project will greatly depend on the commitment of cross-institution collaborations and public involvement in safeguarding the existence of protected areas amidst the expansion of the new urban region. Amidst the risk of losing natural habitats for rare species like orangutans, sanctuaries such as that in Kelawasan could serve as a mitigation step, albeit not the primary solution.
– Nandito Putra contributed to the writing of this article.