An orangutan has been filmed using a rope bridge to cross a road in the Pakpak Bharat district of North Sumatra, Indonesia, much to the delight of conservationists.
The young male Sumatran orangutan used the bridge to venture into a new area of rainforest, giving conservationists hope about the survival of orangutans in the area.
“These canopy bridges demonstrate that human development and wildlife don’t have to be at odds,” said Helen Buckland, chief executive of the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS). “Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective.”
In 2024, SOS – together with its local partner, the Tangguh Hutan Khatulistiwa Foundation (TaHuKah) – began building canopy bridges after the widening of the Lagan-Pagindar road.
This road connected people in rural communities with essential services, such as hospitals and schools.
