Sebangau National Park (Orangutans)
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Summary
- Southwest Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) are present in Sebangau National Park.
- The orangutan population size is estimated to be 6,900 individuals.
- The orangutan population trend is unknown.
- The site has a total size of 5,500 km².
- The main reported threats include illegal logging, forest fires, poaching and agricultural expansion.
- The main conservation activities have focused on raising awareness in the community and restoring habitats.
Site characteristics
The Sebangau river catchment lies within an extensive peatland area, situated between the Katingan River to the east and the Kahayan and Sebangau Rivers to the west. While peat swamp forest dominates the landscape, portions have been converted for agriculture and human settlement, especially near Palangkaraya and in the southeastern Paduran transmigrant area. The region’s orangutan conservation priority is centered around Sebangau National Park, which was established by the Indonesian government in 2004 (WWF 2005).
Table 1. Basic site information for Sebangau National Park (Orangutans)
| Species | Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii |
| Area | 5,500 km² |
| Coordinates | Lat: -2.475273 , Lon: 113.660560 |
| Type of site | Protected area (National Park) |
| Habitat types | Wetlands (lakes, rivers, streams, bogs, marshes), Subtropical/tropical swamp forest |
| Type of governance | Governance by government |
Types of sites Governance types Habitat types
Ape status
Sebangau is believed to support the largest orangutan population in Central Kalimantan, with an estimated 6,900 individuals, and a density estimate of 1 to 3 individuals/km². It was recognized as one of the 13 highest-priority sites for orangutan conservation during the international PHVA workshop held in Jakarta in January 2004 (WWF 2005).
Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Sebangau National Park (Orangutans)
| Species | Year | Occurrence | Encounter or vistation rate (nests/km; ind/day) | Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI) | Abundance estimate (95% CI) | Survey area | Sampling method | Analytical framework | Source | Comments | A.P.E.S. database ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii | 2004 | Sebangau National Park | WWF 2005 | The orangutan population size is estimated to be around 6,900 individuals, and a density estimate of 1 to 3 individuals/km² (WWF 2005). |
Sampling methods Analytical frameworks
Threats
Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Sebangau National Park (Orangutans)
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Present (unknown severity) | Agricultural expansion activities were also reported (WWF 2005). | Ongoing (2005) |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Present (unknown severity) | Orangutan poaching activities were also documented among the identified threats (WWF 2005). | Ongoing (2005) |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | Present (unknown severity) | Unlawful or harmful logging activities, along with the creation of drainage canals, lead to the drying out of peat swamp habitats (WWF 2005). | Ongoing (2005) |
| 7 Natural system modifications | 7.1 Fire & fire suppression | Present (unknown severity) | Wildfires were also documented (WWF 2005). | Ongoing (2005) |
Conservation activities
Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Sebangau National Park (Orangutans)
| Category | Specific activity | Description | Implementing organization(s) | Year of activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Protection & restoration | 5.2 Legally protect ape habitat | Sebangau National Park has held protected status since 2004 (Sherman et al. 2022). | 2004-Ongoing (2026) | |
| 5 Protection & restoration | 5.6 Habitat restoration | Habitat management activities were reported, including habitat restoration through reforesting burned and logged areas of Sebangau National Park, which is essential for protecting the home of the Bornean orangutan (Sherman et al. 2022, Orangutan Outreach 2025). | Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) | 2022-Ongoing (2025) |
| 4 Education & awareness | Other | Community outreach and capacity building (Sherman et al. 2022). | Ongoing (2022) |
Challenges
Enablers
Research activities
Research activities have been reported in Sebangau National Park (Sherman et al. 2022). Since 1993, the OuTrop research station has tracked orangutan behavior, health, density, and forest recovery dynamics—setting a global standard (Borneo Nature Foundation, 2024).
Documented behaviours
Exposure to climate change impacts
External links
References
Borneo Nature Foundation. (2024). Sebangau Landscape. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://www.borneonaturefoundation.org/sebangau-landscape/
Orangutan Outreach. (n.d.). Reforestation. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://redapes.org/about-us/what-we-do/reforestation/
Sherman, J., Voigt, M., Ancrenaz, M., Wich, S. A., Qomariah, I. N., Lyman, E., Massingham, E., & Meijaard, E. (2022). Orangutan killing and trade in Indonesia: Wildlife crime, enforcement, and deterrence patterns. Biological Conservation, 276, 109744. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109744
World Wide Fund for Nature. (2005). WWF’s species action plan for the conservation of orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus and Pongo abelii) in the wild. https://wwfint.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/orangutan_sap_wwf.pdf
Page created by: Aime Mizero Date: 2025-05-29