A sad state: A screencap from video released showing a critically endangered orang utan walking in a coal mine in Borneo’s East Kutai regency of East Kalimantan province. — AFP
Footage of a seemingly confused orang utan roaming the desolate site of an Indonesian coal mine, metres from excavators, has sparked renewed concern about the future of the critically endangered species.
The images, taken last month by a local resident and verified by AFP, are from the same province on Borneo island where Indonesia is building its new capital, a project environmentalists fear will endanger animal habitats in Asia’s last great rainforest.
Indonesia has one of the world’s highest deforestation rates, with commodities mining a key driver, but it is also one of only two places in the world where orang utans are still found, along with Malaysia.
The footage, which went viral on Indonesian social media, shows the male orang utan roaming across a chasm of sand streaked with white and black rocks, dug into land still surrounded by vegetation.
“Humans are sometimes too greedy. I hope God won’t punish us,” read one comment on the video, which racked up tens of thousands of views across YouTube and TikTok.
Locals standing on a bluff overlooking the site filmed the creature as it meandered metres from a digger that was seemingly oblivious to its presence.
Ahmad Baihaqi, who filmed the images, said a group of locals had been watching activity at the mine site when they spotted the primate.
“I felt bad because he looked so confused,” said the 22-year-old driver. “He was alone and looked lost, he didn’t know where to go because the forest was disappearing.”
The sighting took place in East Kalimantan, where Indonesia is building its multi-billion-dollar capital city Nusantara at breakneck speed.
Although the coal mine is a nine-hour drive from the construction site, the images renewed doubts about government claims that economic activity in the province is not affecting endangered animals.
Local environmentalist Mappaselle of the Balikpapan Coastal Working Group, who like many Indonesians uses one name, said the footage was clear evidence of that impact.
The orang utan sighting “was definitely because their habitat has been disturbed and is getting smaller,” he said.
“Our endangered wildlife could go extinct,” he warned.
“It’s a natural wealth from God to us on Earth. If wildlife goes extinct, humans have failed in our job to protect nature.” — AFP
