Arul
The complexities of conservation.
Arul
July 2023 - January 2024
Lamandau Wildlife Reserve in Indonesian Borneo has reported a tragic incident involving Arul, a 6-month old orangutan. Arul was bitten by a group of long-tailed macaques while he and his mother Acuy were quietly feeding on Asam Kalimantan fruit in the same tree.
It seems that the macaques launched a mob attack on Arul, leading to fatal injuries.
A news update by Orangutan Foundation reported: "Staff heard Arul’s screams and saw Acuy carrying Arul’s body back to Camp Rasak. "
The Lamandau Wildlife Reserve is a significant conservation area in Indonesian Borneo. In partnership with Orangutan Foundation, the reserve offers an extensive area of tropical peat forest and a controlled environment to reintroduce and rehabilitate rescued animals. The reserve provides a home for over 500 orangutans.
Lamandau has demonstrated to be an optimum habitat with over 100 wild orangutan births occurring since 2005.
Acuy, Arul's mother, was one of the first orangutans to be reintroduced to Lamandau, back in 2006. Acuy has gone on to have 3 wild-born infants with her eldest daughter Amina now a mother to Albie. Arul was born most recently in July 2023.
An attack like this by macaques on an infant orangutan has not been witnessed before by camp staff and has prompted them to reconsider their understanding of interactions between different wildlife species within the reserve.
The loss of Arul has hit hard, serving as a poignant reminder of the complexities of wildlife reintroduction and the unpredictable nature of wildlife.
Image: Orangutan Foundation
