Indonesia investigates orangutan skull discovery in West Kalimantan

The Indonesian government has launched an investigation following the discovery of a skull believed to belong to an orangutan in a palm oil plantation in West Kalimantan. The incident occurred within a concession area managed by PT Kayung Agro Lestari, a company owned by the Singapore-based agricultural firm First Resources.

The site where the skull was found is classified as a High Conservation Value (HCV) area. According to a 2019 estimate, approximately 180 Bornean orangutans inhabit the region.

Ristiyanto Pribadi, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry, stated that a joint team is currently handling the discovery and collecting information from the company. The investigation aims to determine the exact species of the skull, the cause of death, and the timing of the animal's passing to decide on further legal or conservation actions.