"The four orangutans to be released are part of 40 orangutans planned to be put back into the wild in 2012 by Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation," Minister Hasan said when symbolically releasing the primates at Tjilik Riwut airport, here.
The forestry ministry remains committed to preserving and allocating forest area for restoring the ecosystem including for orangutan habitat.
"Orangutans must be saved and be released in the wild," he said urging all parties to help the BOS Foundation in preserving orangutans.
Co-operation among NGOs, businessmen, and the government is essential to help rehabilitate forest areas, he added.
It is very normal that forestry companies help preserve orangutans and forests, he stated.
He reiterated that orangutans are protected by the state and based on the existing law, those killing orangutans could be jailed for five years.
The newly released orangutans are Tarzan, Monic, Astrid and Tantri. They were put in the rehabilitation center before being released into the forest.
(Uu.F001/INE)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
