On Thursday , July 27, 2023– A collaboration to combat illegal wildlife trade was carried out by lecture from the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), successfully identifying the geographic origin of smuggled orangutans using DNA forensics. This achievement resulted from a partnership between the Faculty of Biology at UGM and the Conservation Agency of East Java Province. It began when the East Java BKSDA sought the assistance of Dr. Dwi Sendi Priyono from the Animal Systematics Laboratory, Faculty of Biology UGM, to identify the subspecies and geographic origin of a smuggled orangutan on July 14, 2023.
Orangutans, being one of the endangered great apes, are targeted by illegal hunting, posing a significant threat to their survival as a species.The rescued orangutan, still a baby, posed challenges to determine its origin. To provide accurate information about the origin of the smuggled orangutan, Dr. Dwi Sendi Priyono, a lecturer at the Systematics Laboratory of the Faculty of Biology UGM, conducted a forensic DNA analysis to resolve this issue. Dr. Sendi was also assisted with genetic facilities by Dra. Tuty Arisuryanti, M.Sc., Ph.D., from the Genetics and Breeding Laboratory.. By combining the DNA sample of the orangutan with an extensive genetic database of orangutans, Dr. Sendi accurately identified the geographic origin of the specimen. The results showed that the orangutan belonged to the Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii subspecies, naturally distributed in the southwest and central regions of Kalimantan.
Dr. Dwi Sendi Priyono stated, “We appreciate the contributions of many parties in protecting the existence of orangutans and other wild animals. These results are expected to assist law enforcement and authorities in facilitating the process of releasing orangutans back to their habitat and tracking broader illegal wildlife trade routes, enabling more effective prevention measures.” This outcome emphasizes the importance of cooperation between academics, the government, and conservation institutions to safeguard biodiversity and mitigate illegal hunting that damages ecosystems. With the identification of the geographic origin of the smuggled orangutan, it is hoped that law enforcement will be more effective, leading to stricter punishment for wildlife traffickers.