A Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) was caught on camera for the first time crossing a man-made canopy bridge in North Sumatra.
The suspension bridge was purpose-built to help orangutans avoid paved roads that cut through their habitat. The project is a collaboration between the local NGO Tangguh Hutan Khatulistiwa, the British charity Sumatra Orangutan Society (SOS), and the local government. Although other species, such as gibbons and long-tailed monkeys, have been seen crossing the bridge, the successful use of this facility by a Sumatran orangutan is claimed to be a world first.
“Breaking news! For the first time ever, a Sumatran orangutan has been filmed using a canopy bridge to overcome forest fragmentation,” wrote Tangguh Hutan Khatulistiwa, SOS, and the Department of Environment and Forestry of North Sumatra Province in a joint Instagram post uploaded on Saturday, the 25th of April, featuring footage of the Sumatran orangutan crossing the suspension bridge.
Back in 2024, five canopy bridges were built in North Sumatra Province. This measure was taken following the expansion of a highway connecting remote communities in Pakpak Bharat Regency, which cut through the rainforest and triggered habitat fragmentation.
Ultimately, the success of this canopy bridge project is expected to maintain connectivity between orangutan populations, which can now only be found naturally on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan.
“This was the moment we had been waiting for. We are very grateful that the canopy here provides benefits for orangutan conservation efforts,” said Erwin Alamsyah Siregar, the Executive Director of Tangguh Hutan Khatulistiwa, as quoted in the press on Monday, the 27th of April.
The CEO of SOS, Helen Buckland, stated that this moment proves that human development and wildlife conservation can go hand in hand without conflict. Currently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the Sumatran orangutan as a critically endangered species.
“Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective,” said Buckland, as quoted in the press on Tuesday, the 28th of April.
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