REA KON, the group’s conservation team, is continuously conducting biodiversity surveys to monitor the status of the species that live within and around the group’s oil palm plantations. One of the main tools used to conduct these surveys is camera traps. Camera traps are digital cameras with sensors that are tied to trees within the conservation areas and left for 15 days at a time. Whenever an animal walks past, the sensor is triggered and the camera takes a photo. This photo of a sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) was the result of REA KON’s most recent camera trap survey in the conservation reserve that borders the Kelupa river. This species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is protected by the Government of Indonesia. Sun bears have been recorded in the conservation reserves within several of the group’s estates, which suggests that this species is able to survive within the conservation areas and natural habitat that remains within and around the group’s oil palm plantations.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012