First Sumatran Orangutan Filmed Crossing Manmade Wildlife Bridge
In North Sumatra, Indonesia, a young male Sumatran orangutan has been recorded for the first time using a manmade canopy bridge to cross a public road. The bridge was installed by the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) to reconnect two fragmented habitats in the Siranggas Wildlife Reserve and Sikulaping Protection Forest, home to around 350 orangutans. The road upgrade had isolated villages but also separated orangutan populations, risking inbreeding and extinction for the critically endangered species. The footage, shared on Facebook and YouTube, shows the orangutan confidently crossing, along with two squirrel species. SOS stated that after two years of waiting, this milestone proves canopy bridges can stitch fragmented forests back together.
Key facts
- First-ever recorded Sumatran orangutan crossing a manmade wildlife bridge.
- Bridge installed by Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) in North Sumatra, Indonesia.
- Bridge connects Siranggas Wildlife Reserve and Sikulaping Protection Forest.
- Around 350 orangutans inhabit the two habitats.
- Orangutans are critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.
- Young male orangutan crossed the bridge, also seen by two squirrel species.
- Other primates like gibbons and macaques had previously used canopy bridges.
- SOS waited two years for this moment, calling it a huge conservation milestone.
Entities
Institutions
- Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS)
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Tangguh Hutan Khatulistiwa (TaHuKah)
- Bukit Tigapuluh National Park
- Jantho Pine Forest Nature Reserve
- Siranggas Wildlife Reserve
- Sikulaping Protection Forest
- Agence France-Presse
- Associated Press
- The Guardian
- Sumatran Orangutan Society
Locations
- North Sumatra
- Indonesia
- Siranggas Wildlife Reserve
- Sikulaping Protection Forest
- Pakpak Bharat district
- Lagan-Pagindar road
- Bukit Tigapuluh National Park
- Sumatra
- Jantho Pine Forest Nature Reserve