The Indonesian government has undertaken critical efforts to protect orangutans over the last few decades, including the orangutan repatriation program, which returns illegally held orangutans from abroad to their homeland in Indonesia. In 2006, alongside the dedicated Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF), they successfully repatriated Du, a 10-year-old female from Thailand, along with 49 other orangutans to the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary. After a careful quarantine, Du demonstrated the necessary survival skills to move to one of the vital pre-release islands - a significant step in her rehabilitation journey!
Three years later, Du became pregnant and gave birth to her first offspring, Dea. The strong bond between Du and Dea highlighted the powerful and instinctual mother-child connection shared among humans and within the primate world. With Du's careful guidance, Dea grew into a bright, independent orangutan, eventually becoming one of the individuals released into the wild in Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park in 2019. This success story demonstrates the conservation impact of the repatriation program, as it enables orangutans like Dea to reintegrate into the wild, enriching Borneo's wild orangutan populations.
Du's success did not end with Dea. In 2016, she gave birth to her second child, Dinda, who now thrives on Kaja Pre-Release Island as a skilled, self-sufficient female. By 2022, Du had her third child, Dai. During this period, Du's close friend and fellow repatriated orangutan, Melata, also welcomed a baby, Dumel. Sadly, Melata went missing in early 2023, prompting Du to adopt and nurture Dumel alongside her own baby, Dai.
Life on the semi-wild pre-release island can be unpredictable, with minimal opportunities for human intervention. In one incident, Dumel was briefly taken by a male orangutan, but thankfully, he was soon reunited with Du. To safeguard both babies, Du and her young ones were relocated to a specialised care complex near the rehabilitation centre in the sanctuary. Dumel, often clinging to Du (even more than Dai), symbolises the unusual dedication Du has shown by caring for two young ones simultaneously - a rarity among female orangutans, who typically raise each offspring for six to eight years before welcoming another.
From her rescue in Thailand to becoming a nurturing mother of four in Indonesia, Du's journey embodies hope for orangutan conservation. With one of her offspring already released and others on track to join her in the wild, Du's legacy highlights the repatriation program's importance in preserving Indonesia's iconic species and the successful rehabilitation processes BOSF has spent over 30 years developing. By strengthening collaboration among the government, NGOs, volunteers and the public, Indonesia is working to ensure that repatriated orangutans return home and thrive, helping restore balance to the rainforests.
***
All the orangutans rescued by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) have overcome incredible hardships, like Du, to progress through the rehabilitation stages on their way to release or to the safety of the sanctuary's private islands. By volunteering with orangutans at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary, you'll help care for orangutans like Du and her babies, paving the way for these orangutans to return to the wild where they belong. Head over to the project page and find out how you can become a volunteer - and, as an added bonus, if you secure your place by midnight on November 30th, you'll receive 15% off!
