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15h ago

First Recorded Sumatran Orangutan Crosses Public Road Using Canopy Bridge

The crossing offers evidence that simple rope bridges can restore tree‑top routes where new roads split forests.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies Sumatran orangutans, endemic to the island of Sumatra, as critically endangered
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Overview

  • Camera‑trap footage from North Sumatra shows a young orangutan crossing a canopy bridge over a public road in the first documented case for the species.
  • The bridge spans the Lagan–Pagindar road in Pakpak Bharat, which divides the Siranggas Wildlife Reserve and the Sikulaping Protection Forest.
  • After a 2024 upgrade widened the canopy gap, TaHuKah, the Sumatran Orangutan Society, and Indonesian agencies installed five rope bridges and set camera traps on each with regular patrols to deter encroachment.
  • Smaller animals used the crossings first as teams waited two years, while orangutans nested nearby and tested the ropes before one finally crossed.
  • Conservationists call it a milestone for a critically endangered species of about 13,587 animals, and they hope it speeds adoption of canopy bridges in road planning.