environment
‘Cries of delight’ as Sumatran orangutan filmed using canopy bridge to cross road for first time
After a two-year wait, video of a young male crossing above a road gives hope that critically endangered species can survive habitat fragmentation
TL;DR
- A Sumatran orangutan was filmed for the first time using a canopy bridge to cross a road.
- The bridge was built in North Sumatra, Indonesia, by conservationists to help wildlife cross a road that fragmented their habitat.
- After a two-year wait, footage captured a young male orangutan crossing the bridge, offering hope for the species' survival.
- The road had split the local orangutan population into two groups, increasing the risk of inbreeding and functional extinction.
- The canopy bridge installation is seen as a success, demonstrating that development and conservation can coexist.