Ketambe Postal Codes: 24652 to 24662 | Aceh Tenggara, Aceh

Key Facts

Ketambe is a research station and small settlement located in the Gunung Leuser National Park within Aceh Tenggara Regency of Aceh Province, Indonesia. Situated in the northern part of Sumatra island, Ketambe lies along the Alas River valley in the mountainous terrain of the Leuser Ecosystem, one of the most biodiverse regions in Southeast Asia. The area serves as a crucial research base for studying Sumatran orangutans, with the Ketambe Research Station established in the 1970s becoming internationally renowned for long-term primate behavioral studies. Covering approximately 5 square kilometers within the larger national park, Ketambe represents a protected forest area that hosts one of the world's most important orangutan research sites. While not a formal administrative division with its own population, the station supports researchers, park rangers, and limited ecotourism activities focused on wildlife observation and conservation. The location contains several research cabins, observation posts, and basic infrastructure supporting scientific work in this remote rainforest environment. Visitors to this area can access detailed information about research activities, conservation programs, and the unique biodiversity found within this critical habitat through various scientific and conservation organizations working in the region.