Reported by Witri Loviyanti, VDMS Grantee from Lambung Mangkurat University (UNLAM), Banjarmasin
February 5th, 2017 grantees of RR Banjarmasin present as participants to save Bekantan. The event had initiated by local community.
Bekantan (Nasalis larvatus) is one of South Kalimantan famous mascot. It is well-known by its big nose. Unfortunately, today Bekantan existence is danger. Their environment replaced by industries that take places in the bank of Sungai Barito. Many tongkang also tied up in which it should be trees there. One of Bekantan food is Rambai (Baccaurea motleyana). It grows wild in the bank of Sungai Barito. People in Banjarmasin initiate to plant Rambai in order to bring back natural environment to save Bekantan.
Ika, one of RR Banjarmasin grantee, receive the Rambai seed in the small ceremony as the symbol to begin the activity
Many people engaged in this activity such as Melingai (Masyarakat Peduli Sungai), Galuh Banjarmasin, Duta Air and Duta Bekantan Banjarmasin, Students from Biology Education Department ULM, Scouts, DPRD members and people from some government department, and of course, RR Banjarmasin grantees. This activity that started from 9 AM until 12 PM, hopefully may bring the natural environment to Bekantan. In this activity, about 100 Rambai trees were planted. The location where the Rambai planted is Pulau Curiak, near Jembatan Barito. Rambai grows from water, and to plant the Rambai seed (which still in form of small trees), we should go into the water. Less than half hour, all Rambai seeds were finished to plant. Ika is only grantee do plant, caused each other grantees cannot swam. Anyway In Pulau Curiak, there are still 14 Bekantan live, the eternal of Bekantan is an aim of this activity, so Let’s save them by doing real action.
Ika (blue hat) looks very comfortable swimming after planted Rambai tree
A2A E – Newsletter Vol. 60| II | 2017