Bukit Lawang

Bukit Lawang is a small tourist village on the bank of Bahorok River in North Sumatra province of Indonesia.

Situated approximately 86 km northwest of the city of Medan, Bukit Lawang is known for the largest animal sanctuary of Sumatran orangutan (around 5,000 orangutans occupying the area) and also the main access point to the Gunung Leuser National Park from the east side.

Its main purpose was to preserve the decreasing number of orangutan population due to hunting, trading and deforestation.

The centre closed in 2002 as the place was getting too touristy and unsuitable for animal rehabilitation.

Around 400 houses, 3 mosques, 8 bridges, 280 kiosks and food stalls, 35 hotels and guest houses were destroyed by the flood; 239 people including 5 tourists were killed, and around 1,400 locals lost their homes.