Week in Wildlife: Orangutan Uses Canopy Bridge, Whale Rescue Controversy
A critically endangered Sumatran orangutan has been captured on video using a canopy bridge to traverse a public roadway in North Sumatra, Indonesia. This bridge, constructed by conservationists in 2024, crosses the Lagan-Pagindar road, which poses challenges for local wildlife despite its advantages for residents. It took the orangutan two years to acclimate to the bridge, much to the satisfaction of the project team. In other wildlife news, a humpback whale named Timmy was recently transferred from Timmendorfer Strand to the North Sea. Additional animal sightings included a great egret in St. Augustine, Florida, puffins in the UK, and a one-horned rhino in Nepal.
Key facts
- First filmed use of canopy bridge by Sumatran orangutan in North Sumatra, Indonesia.
- Bridge built in 2024 over Lagan-Pagindar road; orangutan crossed after two years.
- Humpback whale Timmy transported from Timmendorfer Strand to North Sea for release; rescue controversial.
- Great egret in breeding plumage in St Augustine, Florida; once nearly extinct from plume trade.
- Green frog inflates vocal sacs in La Barben, France.
- Puffins on Farne Islands, UK; Inner Farne reopened for seabird viewing.
- Père David's deer population at Shishou Milu Deer reserve reached 2,901 by end of 2025.
- Burrowing owl in Davie, Florida; uses dung to attract beetles.
Entities
Institutions
- Sumatran Orangutan Society
- National Trust
- Hacienda Napoles Park
- Chitwan National Park
- Chang Tang National Nature Reserve
Locations
- North Sumatra
- Indonesia
- Lagan-Pagindar road
- St Augustine
- Florida
- United States
- La Barben
- France
- Farne Islands
- Northumberland
- United Kingdom
- Timmendorfer Strand
- Germany
- North Sea
- Assam
- India
- Lough Neagh
- County Armagh
- UK
- Parc Floral de Paris
- Vincennes
- Aceh
- Ajmer
- Essex
- Frankfurt
- Hubei Province
- China
- Shishou Milu Deer National Nature Reserve
- Elkton
- Oregon
- Eynif Plateau
- Antalya
- Turkey
- Puerto Triunfo
- Colombia
- Hacienda Napoles Park
- Davie
- Chitwan National Park
- Nepal
- Warrington
- Chang Tang National Nature Reserve
- Xizang Autonomous Region
- Fraserburgh Harbour
- Aberdeen
- Scotland
- Moscow
- Russia