Join us in celebrating the successful release of six orangutans from the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary into the vast and protected Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF), in partnership with Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Natural Resources Conservation Centre of Central Kalimantan, embarked on its 44th release on November 10th. Orangutans, Happy, Jengyos, Runtu, Bejo, Meryl and Blegi were returned home to the wild!
LEAVING THE SANCTUARY
Before leaving Nyaru Menteng, the BOSF medical team and technicians ensured the orangutans were in peak health. They gently sedated the orangutans and safely transferred them into transport cages, setting the stage for their exciting journey ahead. After months of meticulous planning, the team and the orangutans were ready and waved off with a prayer and celebration!
JOURNEY BY LAND
The first stop was the permit office, where the team processed the necessary permits to enter the conservation area. During this pause, they conducted wellness checks on the orangutans and provided them with essential enrichment, including water and fresh fruit, ensuring they were hydrated and energised! After addressing their needs, the team continued, making scheduled stops every two hours to monitor and support the comfort of their orangutan companions.
JOURNEY BY BOAT
By 2:30am, the team arrived at the ferry crossing at Tumbang Hiran Village, where they took a moment to rest before beginning the river segment of our journey. At 6:00am, they carefully loaded the transport cages onto a kelotok, a motorised boat - and set off to the release points along the beautiful Hiran watershed. Remaining vigilant throughout this journey, they closely monitored the orangutans to ensure their calmness and health, and they were ready for their upcoming release!
THE RELEASE OF JENGYOS AND BEJO
After a laborious six-hour boat journey, they reached the first release point, where the cages for Jengyos and Bejo were opened. Eagerly, both orangutans explored their new environment. Jengyos and Bejo quickly engaged with each other, wrestling and frolicking on the forest floor, followed by Bejo indulging in a feast and constructing a nest as the rain started to fall.
THE RELEASE OF MERYL AND BLEGI
The team then moved to the second release point to open the cages for Meryl and Blegi. Initially hesitant, both orangutans soon found their courage, with Blegi playfully chasing Meryl as they acclimate to their new habitat. Meryl relished climbing through the trees and nibbling on young leaves. Meryl and Blegi's connection is strong, and they were observed engaging socially and intimately before building their nest near each other about 150 meters from the river.
THE RELEASE OF RUNTU AND HAPPY
Runtu and Happy were the last to be waved off at the final release point. Happy immediately exited the cage with lively behaviour, joining Runtu and sharing an affectionate moment before copulating. The two were later observed enjoying sap from tree trunks - an excellent indication of their natural adaptive skills. Runtu added to the ambience with happy grunt vocalisations, signalling his comfort in this new environment. It was heartwarming to witness both orangutans fully embracing their freedom and showcasing their impressive ability to thrive in the forest.
POST-RELEASE REFLECTIONS
The day concluded with an evaluation meeting at the monitoring camp. This gathering was a wonderful opportunity for the release and post-release monitoring teams to reflect on the immediate health of the orangutans and strategies for ongoing monitoring. Everyone involved beamed with optimism and hope that these six orangutans will flourish in their natural habitat, marking yet another significant milestone in the journey of orangutan conservation. Watch the video below to see Happy, Jengyos, Runtu, Bejo, Meryl, and Blegi take their first steps into their new, wild home!
BE PART OF THE JOURNEY
Together, let us celebrate not just this moment but also the future possibilities it brings for the return of orangutans to the wild! The journey of these six orangutans doesn't end here, nor does the mission to protect orangutans. Many more await rescue, rehabilitation, and the chance to return to the wild. You can play an important role in this process by volunteering with orangutans at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary. Helping prepare enrichment activities to encourage natural behaviours, assisting the dedicated team in their rehabilitation efforts, and witnessing the steps to prepare an orangutan for release.
Head over to the project page to learn how you can join this incredible mission and help create more stories of hope and freedom for orangutans.
