TEN MORE TO FREEDOM
Meet the candidates for the 41st orangutan release from Nyaru Menteng.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia (KLHK), together with the Natural Resources Conservation Centre (BKSDA) of Central Kalimantan and the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation, will soon conduct the 41st orangutan release from the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre into the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park (TNBBBR). The journey splits into two trips, one to the Hiran and the other to the Bemban area.
TRIP 1: HIRAN SITE
ARISTO
Aristo is an orphaned male orangutan that the BOS Foundation rescued from an oil palm plantation in East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan, on 12 September 2006. When he arrived at Nyaru Menteng, he was only 2.5 years old and weighed 4.1 kg.
After passing quarantine, Aristo entered Forest School and successfully progressed to the final stage of rehabilitation on a pre-release island. It was on 31 December 2019 that he moved to Bangamat Island. Aristo showed very encouraging behavioural development during his time on the island.
Aristo is now 20 years old and ready to return to his real home, the forest.
LALANG
Lalang is a female orangutan who was repatriated from Thailand on 22 November 2006, together with 47 other orangutans. Lalang arrived at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre when she was 5.5 years old, weighing 25 kg.
After an initial quarantine period, Lalang attended Forest School and eventually graduated. She then entered the pre-release rehabilitation stage on Bangamat Island on 10 January 2020.
Lalang is now 23 years old, and, after 16.5 years of rehabilitation, during which she honed a sound skillset, she is ready to return to the forest to live as a true, wild orangutan.
These four orangutans go on the first trip to the Hiran site of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
NONI PARTONO
Noni Partono was rescued on 1 October 2016 from a resident of Lahei Mangkub Village, Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan. This orphaned orangutan was only two years old and weighed 4.3 kg at her rescue.
After undergoing quarantine, Noni Partono joined other orangutans her age in Forest School, where she showed steady progress. She then continued the rehabilitation process by entering a pre-release island, specifically Bangamat Island, on 1 December 2021.
Noni Partono is now nine years old. After undergoing a 7-year rehabilitation journey and with a strong skill set, she is more than ready to live in the forests of TNBBBR.
SVENJA
Svenja is an orphaned female orangutan who was rescued from Tuanan, Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan, on 10 November 2005. At the time of her rescue, she was only 18 months old, weighed 2.8 kg, and was in poor condition.
Svenja underwent the quarantine process that all orangutans must pass upon arrival at the rehabilitation centre. After that, she attended Forest School, and on 6 December 2021, Svenja entered the pre-release stage of rehabilitation on Bangamat Island.
Svenja is now 19.5 years old and has received excellent observation scores throughout her rehabilitation journey of 18 years. This graceful female orangutan is more than ready to begin her new life in the TNBBBR as a true, wild orangutan.
TRIP 2: BEMBAN SITE
YOKO
Yoko is an orphaned male orangutan who was rescued from Tuanan, Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan, on 10 November 2015. When he arrived at Nyaru Menteng, he was only two years old and weighed 4.4 kg.
After passing the quarantine period, Yoko joined Forest School and successfully completed all stages. On 6 December 2021, Yoko was transferred to Bangamat Pre-Release Island to undergo the final stage of his rehabilitation journey.
Yoko is now ten years old and, after 7.5 years of rehabilitation, is ready to live wild and free in the TNBBBR forest as a true, wild orangutan.
These are the six orangutans who will join a new life in freedom in the Bemban area.
SYAHRINI
Syahrini is the daughter of Suja, a female orangutan who the BOS Foundation released in the TNBBBR in December 2019. Syarhrini was born at the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre on 31 October 2013. Sadly, the BOS team had to separate her from her mother Suja, who could not properly care for her baby. A dedicated surrogate mother then raised Syahrini.
Later, Syahrini attended Forest School, and in 2019, she had the opportunity to continue her learning in the pre-release rehabilitation stage on Bangamat Island.
Syahrini is now ten years old and will soon put her skills to the ultimate test when she returns to her true home, the forest.
KEJORA
Kejora is an orphaned female orangutan who was confiscated from a resident of Tangkiling, Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, on 1 February 2016. At the time of her rescue, she was 18 months old and weighed 4.8 kg. She was found in a shocking condition, alone and bound by iron chains in a fertiliser warehouse.
After passing a period of quarantine, Kejora joined Forest School and worked through all stages until she successfully graduated. Kejora then entered the final stage of her rehabilitation journey and moved to Badak Besar Pre-release Island on 12 November 2021.
Lovely Kejora is now nine years old and, after seven years of rehabilitation, will soon head to the forest to begin her new life as a true, wild orangutan.
SUSANNE
Susanne was rescued from Kuala Kurun, Gunung Mas Regency, Central Kalimantan, after it was reported that she had been kept as a pet by a local resident for three years. She arrived at Nyaru Menteng on 11 October 2017, when she was 3.5 years old and weighed 6.1 kg.
After passing quarantine, Susanne attended Forest School with other orangutans her age. She passed all levels and, on 12 November 2021, put her skills to the test during the pre-release stage of rehabilitation on Badak Besar Island.
Susanne is now ten years old and, after undergoing a rehabilitation journey of seven years, is finally ready to enjoy true freedom in a natural forest.
MAMA EDWAN & EDWINA
Mama Edwan is a wild orangutan who was rescued from an oil palm plantation in East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan, on 27 August 2007. She arrived at Nyaru Menteng when she was about 15 years old and weighed 35 kg. She had an open wound on the base of her left hand and a broken bone that required immediate treatment from our veterinary team. After several days, her injury showed no sign of healing, forcing our veterinary team to make the difficult decision to amputate her left arm.
After the amputation and her recovery, Mama Edwan was placed on Palas Island to undergo the pre-release rehabilitation stage. Mama Edwan is resilient, resourceful, and agile despite only having one arm. She became pregnant on the island and gave birth to a female baby on 20 May 2017. Her daughter was named Edwina.
Mama Edwan is now 36 years old, and her daughter Edwina is six. This mother-offspring pair will soon get the opportunity to return to the wilderness, where we are certain they will embrace their new lives as true, wild orangutans.
Have a safe journey!
Will you help us rescue, rehabilitate and release orangutans back to freedom?
