JAKARTA: A young Sumatran orangutan was filmed cautiously crossing a rope canopy bridge over a public road in Sumatra on April 27, marking a key success for conservation efforts.
The bridge connects fragmented forests split by the Lagan-Pagindar road in Pakpak Bharat, where around 350 orangutans are isolated between protected areas.
The animal paused at the forest edge, tested the structure, and moved slowly across, even stopping mid-way to look down at traffic below before continuing safely. Conservationists had waited two years for an orangutan to use the crossing.
The bridges, built by Tangguh Hutan Khatulistiwa (TaHuKah) with partners and government agencies, are part of a restoration effort after a 2024 road upgrade disrupted natural canopy routes.
While smaller animals like squirrels and monkeys used them earlier, the orangutan’s successful crossing is seen as a major behavioural breakthrough.
With fewer than 14,000 Sumatran orangutans remaining in the wild, the project is viewed as an important step in reconnecting fragmented habitats and improving long-term survival chances.
