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| A photo of an orangutan being tortured before it was killed in a palm-oil plantation in East Kalimantan. (Photo courtesy of RCTI) |
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Indonesian
police have questioned a researcher who uncovered the alleged torture and
killing of orangutans in a palm oil plantation area in East Kalimantan.
Yaya
Rayadin, a researcher from state-owned Mulawarman University in Samarinda, told
the Jakarta Globe on Wednesday that the questioning took place at Kutai
Kartanegara Police headquarters on Monday.
“They asked
me about the bones of an orangutan that were taken to my lab for analysis,”
Yaya said, adding that the remains were found by locals at a plantation area in
Puan Cepak, Muara Kaman district.
“I told
them that based on forensic examinations, the bones belonged to an adult
orangutan and that it died from unnatural causes. The bones showed marks of
sharp weapons,” he said, adding that he had handed remains to the Natural
Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) for evidence purposes.
It was the
first time police have questioned anyone in relation to the alleged killing of
the protected animals.
The
shocking allegations were first made public in September, though police at the
time said they needed more proof before an investigation could be launched.
“We need
evidence. Can anyone show us the location of the killing, who did it?” Kutai
Kartanegara Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. I Gusti Harryarsama told RCTI recently.
“If there are graves, we can exhume the bodies and take photos.”
The TV
station has aired chilling images of people torturing and killing the primates,
including the plate number of a motorcycle that was used by one of the alleged
killers.
The
practice of killing orangutans had taken place since 2008, Yaya said.
“The
forests are the natural habit of orangutans, including the forests that were later
converted into palm-oil plantation,” he said.
“However,
they adapt to changes very well and they survive by observing and learning from
the environment around them. The only food available is palm so they eat it,”
Yaya said.
One
orangutan could eat up to 30 to 40 palm trees a day, he said.
“Therefore,
plantation firms consider them as pests that must be controlled to prevent
losses.”
Meanwhile,
RCTI interviewed a former plantation employee who claimed that plantation firms
offered rewards for anyone who could capture orangutans dead or alive.
“The order
was to capture orangutans and monkeys, bring them to the office. If we brought
three, we’ll get Rp 3 million ($333),” the anonymous source said.
The
captured orangutans would be caged, beaten and buried.
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