“I do this job because I am passionate about orangutans and their habitat. It would be difficult to do this kind of work without that feeling in your heart.”
Chief Murlan, Park Manager Tanjung Puting National Park
My parents never took me to artificial tourist attractions like Ancol, Taman Mini or other places like that. They preferred to take us to the mountains, to the sea, to natural places. So I was often out in nature, and I felt happy there, I felt comfortable.
Earlier in my career, I was assigned to remote places like Mount Tambora National Park in Sumbawa, and then Lake Sentarum. So, although Tanjung Puting National Park might be considered remote, I was happy to be here. I like being in the forest in faraway locations.
I’ve been the Park Manager here for about four years, since August 2020. I’m here because I was assigned by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, but on a personal level, I do this job because I am passionate about orangutans and their habitat. It would be difficult to do this kind of work without that feeling in your heart.
There have been a couple of moments that have blown me away. The first was when I first arrived, I went to Tanjung Harapan, and I saw orangutans in their natural habitat for the first time. I had seen them before in the zoo and also when I was working in Betung Kerihun, West Kalimantan, but only when they were about to be released, not in their habitat. That was a very special moment. I honestly melted. From there my love for orangutans and their habitat grew. I think we need to know them to truly care about them. The second moment was when I first went to the very heart of Tanjung Puting National Park, to an area not accessible to the public. The view there is extraordinary. It really is a paradise.
My fellow rangers and I, our main task is to protect orangutans and their habitat, and in turn protect all elements and wildlife within the ecosystem. The orangutan is close to extinction and it needs to be protected and preserved, so one of our missions is ensuring that they not only survive but also continue to reproduce.
There are relatively few disturbances in the National Park. There are no conflicts between animals, which makes it easier to regulate and maintain their habitat. That said, it is not that there are no threats, there are certainly illegal activities, but together with partners and the community we try our best to keep them under control.
It’s impossible for us to do this work alone.
We work with local government, and other partners and institutions who have been given permits by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
We also work with schools, because we need support from the younger generation. Our hope is that the young people in the Pangkalan Bun area, and around Indonesia, can become more familiar with orangutans and more concerned for their welfare and the biodiversity in the Park.
I’m always happy exploring the Park because knowing as much as I can about all areas is important to me to be able to do my job. That includes talking with people in the villages and all kinds of people involved with the Park which helps me to know more clearly what I have to do to hit our goals.
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