ANCAMAN TERHADAP POPULASI ORANGUTAN SUMATERA (Pongo abelii Lesson)

Abstract

The Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii Lesson) population has suffered from fast decline in the last 30 years. This study was aimed to examine threats to the population of Sumatran orangutans, especially around Dolok Sibual-buali Nature Reserve, North Sumatra. Data were collected by using descriptive observation and questioner distribution methods. The results showed that serious threats to orangutans consisted of habitat loss caused by logging, forest encroachment, shacks development, and road extension. Hunting was relatively low because 77.5 % of societies know orangutan as a protected animal. The other society activities were conducted in the orangutan habitat were farming 70 %, wooding up to burn 80 % , and to take of palm-juice 26.7 %. A total of orangutan about 27 individuals in Dolok Sibual-buali Nature Reserve was estimated to decrease if there were no programs on orangutans conservation, local societies empowerment, and law enforcement.