Get to know more about the Sumatran orangutan research site

Sumatran orangutan research area - Aceh is a province located at the western end of Indonesia, There is a national nature reserve, the Gunung Leuser National Park.

Besides having beaches, mountains, and other natural charms, Indonesia also has a National Park which contains nearly thousands of flora and fauna. One of them is the Gunung Leuser National Park whose existence has been recognized worldwide. Gunung Leuser National Park is located in the province of Aceh, this park functions as a protector as well as a home for various flora and fauna, including protected exotic fauna, such as the Sumatran tiger, Sumatran elephant, Sumatran rhinoceros, and of course the Sumatran orangutan.

Orangutan/photo: Pixbay

Some of the forests that we can find are lowland rainforest, moss forest, mangrove forest, swamp forest, and subalpine forest. The nature reserves are Kluet Nature Reserve, Sikundur-Langkat Wildlife Reserve, Ketambe Research Station, Gunung Leuser Nature Reserve, Kappi Nature Reserve, West Singkil, and Dolok Sembilin. This time, we will only discuss the Ketambe research station.

forest at the Ketambe research station/source photo: mongbay.co.id

Ketambe, a destination dubbed Tourism in the "Lungs of the world" is one of the leading tourist sites in Southeast Aceh Regency. It has cool air because of its natural beauty and biodiversity. The Ketambe research station is home to orangutans and a number of other rare animals. Has an area of 450 hectares. Besides orangutans, this station also functions as a hornbill research station. So it's not surprising, besides tourists who just want to see a natural beauty that is still very well preserved here, there are also many researchers who come to this location.

The Ketambe Research Station is located in Ketambe Village, Ketambe District, Southeast Aceh Regency, Aceh Province. Management-wise, this area is located in the Lawe Gurah Resort, Regional IV Badar National Park Management Section, Kutacane Region II National Park Management Division.

If you want to go to the Ketambe Research Station, you can go from Medan to Kutacane can be reached by four-wheeled vehicles for about 6 hours. From Kutacane to the Research Station, it can be reached by land from the capital of Southeast Aceh Regency using two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicles and followed by a ferry boat.

cross to Ketambe station by boat, Photo by : Ahmad Ariska/acehkini

For rafting fans, you can test your guts on the Alas River or local people call it Lawe Alas. This longest river in Aceh, apart from dividing the Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL), also crosses several districts in Aceh and North Sumatra.

The river whose name comes from the Alas Tribe inhabits Southeast Aceh Regency has a fairly challenging wave level, so only experienced people are allowed to play. Because the waves can reach as high as 2 meters and also have some sharp bends to pass.

Alas River which is very suitable for those who have a hobby of rafting/ photo: Mongbay.co.id

One of the interesting facts from the Ketambe research station is that in 2016 Leonardo Dicaprio visited Gunung Leuser National Park with actors Adrien Brody and Fisher Stevans, they came to see biodiversity and orangutans as well as to campaign for environmental care.

Leonardo DiCaprio with Sumatran Elephant

(Instagram/@leonardodicaprio)