Prevab Mentoko is not an ordinary tourist destination. This area holds a long history as a site of international research. From 1969 to 1970, researchers from the University of Washington and UC—such as Windell, Carolyn Wilson, Bruce Weathly, David Phearson, Mark Leighton, and John Mitani—used the area as a natural laboratory to study primate life. In the 1980s, Japanese scientists like Shigeru Azuma and Akira Suzuki deepened studies on orangutan socio-ecology. Since then, the Mentoko forest has been recognized as one of the world’s key centers for orangutan research.
Today, the area is fully managed by Kutai National Park (TNK) and serves as a conservation zone. It is not intended for mass tourism, but rather for limited activities such as scientific research, environmental education, and small-scale ecotourism guided by local experts. TNK is committed to preserving the scientific value and natural integrity of this forest, ensuring that every human step taken within it respects the wilderness.
Prevab Mentoko is a symbol of global collaboration and love for nature. Visiting it means joining the effort to protect orangutans and preserve Borneo’s rainforest for future generations.