ORANGUTANS BUKIT LAWANG

Orangutans is endangered species of hominid which habitats are only 3 left in the world, and 2 are in Indonesia, that are in North Sumatra and Kalimantan. On the island of Sumatra from north to the south stretches mountain chain known as Bukit Barisan. Along the chain at some places called with different names according to its summit or specific function of natural reserve. For example near the border of north Sumatra and Aceh there is a national reserve called Mount Leuser National Park covering 890.000 hectares virgin forest. Here live elephants, rhinos, tigers, clouded leopards, and orangutans. Two main rivers split the park into west and east parts. Alas river is one of the most popular place for white water rafting.

The last village before entering the national park of North Sumatra is Bukit Lawang, 84 km from Medan city. Further up from Bukit Lawang village there is big river flowing down from the slope of Mt. Leuser called Bohorok river. On the left and right sides of the river are managed rubber plantations which are directly bordering with the national park. The rehabilitation and feeding site of the Orangutans are 190 km from Bukit Lawang, on the side of Bohorok river. Along the left and right banks of the river are found various simple accommodations and restaurants. Since the publication of orangutans are exist in Bukit Lawang travelers started to visit the location, especially the biologists at the beginning and followed by common tourists which until 1990s the peak of visitors numbers of foreign tourists. Foreign tourists became an interesting object for local people, so they also visit Bukit Lawang not less in amount, making the area a favorite travel destination both for foreigners and local. During certain days the situation can be very crowded, and need more and more travel facilities especially accommodations and restaurants.

All travel facilities are constructed along the low bank of Bohorok river, so it is within the flooding area of the river especially during peak of rainy season on March/April and September. February, June and July are the driest seasons on the area. In 2001 a big flood swept some bungalows and restaurants including the best accommodations, and needed more than 1 year to recover the whole system of facilities on the area.

Orangutans Rehabilitation
The effort of preserving the decreasing number of its population was started in 1973 by WWF by establishing a rehabilitation center just on the side of Bohorok river further up from Bukit Lawang village. The rehabilitation is meant to return back their natural behavior after years being domesticated by men. During the administration of President Soeharto the illegal capturing and trading of Orangutans was so worrying and was said to have made the number of its population decreasing steadily. Since 1934 a formal organization to protect the national park was already launched under the name of Yayasan Leuser International, formed by leaders from Aceh and North Sumatra. This non government organization got the support from European community, yet it is said give no impact to the actual action of conservation due to corruption of officials during the era, when local and observers could not prevent illegal logging and capturing of orangutans with the support of corrupt officials. In 1980 the government of Indonesia took over the rehabilitation center and finance this project with entrance fee earnings. At the rehabilitation center captured orangutans are treated carefully, quarantined, checked from diseases, trained to survive in the wild, and given monotonous food so it tries to find variation alone. Feeding only given twice a day. This is the feeding site that become the most interesting object for travelers. Feeding time is from 0800 - 0900 and 1500 - 1600. During feeding it appears 3 or 4 of them but depend also on the availability of food.

Jungle Trekking
As other combination of visiting orangutans rehabilitation center, trekking activities are very popular that one can choose to a one day, 2, up to 5 days trekking. Various trails are also available which can be consulted with local tour operator to get best choice. Most trekking guides speak English. By joining jungle trekking the possibility is bigger to meet orangutans at their original behavior and habitat. Other fauna and flora are mentioned by the park that around 700 animal species live here, between 300 to 400 are birds, and 8.500 plant species, including the biggest flower in the world the Raflesia Amoldi.

Natural Caves
Short walk around Bukit Lawang is also interesting, especially bat cave, 2 km south of Bukit Lawang village passing climbing up path, Boat Rock bat cave 4 km further down the stream with no enter without guide. Panorama Outlook, a vantage point of view passing slippery path of rain forest. From here there is another Goa Luntur bat cave which will need around 1 hour walking from Bukit Lawang village. Near the village is a cave tunnel with the end of beautiful rock formation view.

Bohorok River
Some interesting activities can be organize on Bohorok river such as floating on rubber tubes, white water rafting further down Bohorok river on Wampu river, and kayaking is the best place on the stream of Bohorok river. Read more

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