THE JOURNEY OF SIX ORANGUTANS TO FREEDOM
On November 10, 2024, we successfully released six orangutans back into the wild from the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre to the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
The preparation for this release was conducted with meticulous attention to detail, as our medical team and technicians worked tirelessly to ensure that all six orangutan candidates were in stable health. The first steps in their return to freedom involved sedation and transfer into transport cages.
Land journey with set stops
That evening, the release team held a briefing to carefully organise each stage of the trip, ensuring that all logistics were in place and each role was clearly defined. Thorough planning was essential as the team travelled by land and river to safely reach the orangutans’ release points.
The first stop was the SPTN II Kasongan Office, where the team processed the permit to enter the conservation area. Additionally, we conducted wellness checks on the orangutans and provided them with enrichment, including water and fresh fruit, to keep them hydrated and energised. After that, we continued our journey toward Tumbang Hiran Village, stopping every two hours to ensure the comfort and well-being of the orangutans.
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- The vet team prepares the orangutans for their journey to freedom.
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- Motorised boats bring the orangutans to the release point.
Per boat to the release point
At 2:30 a.m., the team arrived at the ferry crossing in Tumbang Hiran Village, where they took a brief rest before starting their river journey. By 6:00 a.m., they had loaded the transport cages onto a klotok, a motorised boat that would carry them to their release points along the Hiran watershed. The team continuously monitored the orangutans throughout the journey to ensure they remained calm and healthy.
After a six-hour river journey, the team arrived at the first release point. Here they opened the cages for Jengyos and Bejo. Eager to explore, both orangutans ventured into the forest. Jengyos enjoyed socialising with Bejo, wrestling and playing together on the ground. Bejo spent most of his time eating before he began to build a nest as the rain started to fall.
Exploring the new home
The team proceeded to the second release point to open Meryl and Blegi’s cages. Initially cautious, the two soon began to explore their new surroundings. Blegi started his adventure by chasing Meryl as they adjusted to their habitat. Meryl spent most of her time relaxed, moving through the trees and enjoying the young leaves. Both were engaging in social interactions and copulated, later building nests near each other about 150 meters from the river.
At the final release point, it was Runtu’s and Happy’s turn. Happy immediately displayed active behaviour, gathering with Runtu and engaging in copulation. The two orangutans were later seen chewing sap from tree trunks—a sign of their natural adaptation skills. As the day progressed, Runtu made several grunt vocalisations, indicating his presence in the new environment. Both orangutans enthusiastically embraced their newfound freedom, showcasing their natural skills in adapting to the forest environment.
The Post-Release-Monitoring is making sure that the orangutans adapt well to their new home.
Evaluation meeting for a new beginning
The 44th orangutan release concluded with an evaluation meeting at 7:10 p.m. upon the team’s arrival at the Himba Pambelum Monitoring Camp. During this meeting, the release and Post-Release Monitoring teams reviewed the immediate health of the orangutans. Moreover, they discussed the next steps for ongoing monitoring. Everyone involved is hopeful that these six orangutans will thrive in their natural habitat, representing another milestone and renewed hope for the conservation of orangutans in the wild.
