North Sumatra Now Has a New Wildlife Rescue Center

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) has inaugurated a new wildlife rescue center in North Sumatra. First constructed by the Ministry and partners in 2020, the center is an addition to three similar facilities in the province.

Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry Alue Dohong inaugurated Sumatran Rescue Alliance on Wednesday, January 12, and said the initiative is part of human’s responsibility to protect the nature.

“This is the manifestation of our responsibility as human beings to protect the nature, to coexist and live together with wildlife because, without those animals, ecosystem will be disrupted and may result in conflict between humans and animals,” Dohong said in a statement, as reported by Antara.

Member of Sumatran Rescue Alliance’s steering committee Panut Hadisiswoyo said the center, along with the Conservation of Natural Resources, will provde shelter, rehabilitation, and habituation prior to reintroducing the faunas back into the wild.

Sumatran Rescue Alliance was first initiated in 2020 by Aceh and North Sumatra’s Conservations of Natural Resources, Orangutan Information Center (OIC), and Orangutan Project.

The facility is located in Bukit Mas village, Besitang subdisctrict, Langkat regency. Among some of the faunas that have been rescued by the center are four agile gibbons (Hylobates agilis), one lar gibbon (Hylobates lar), 14 siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus), two Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii), and three sun bears (Helarctos malayanus).

Previously, North Sumatra already had Mbatubelin Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, Barumun Sumatran Tiger Sanctuary, and Sibolangit Wildlife Rescue Center.