GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Towards the end of 2015, BOS Foundation released another four orangutans from the East Kalimantan Orangutan Reintroduction Program in Samboja Lestari to Kehje Sewen Forest, with the support of our partner organization, BOS Switzerland.

In early December, the release team in Samboja Lestari Forest School 2 started the first preparations for transporting the orangutans back to the forest. Meanwhile, team release in Kehje Sewen Forest reported that the weather was good and it looked like that day, Tuesday, 1 December 2015, would be perfect to reintroduce Hanung, Bungan, Joni and Teresa back to natural forest in Kehje Sewen.

Amongst the four, Bungan was considered the most difficult to sedate, so we focused on her first. She was not very cooperative as suspected and vet Agnes had the task on her hands. The first attempt was unsuccessful, but the second worked beautifully. Whilst waiting for Bungan to fall asleep, we started the same process with Hanung and Joni. The latter two were quick to sleep and were moved into their own transport cages following Teresa who was already safely in hers.

Once the anesthetic began to take effect, Bungan was moved to her waiting transport cage ready to take her to Kehje Sewen.
Now all four were ready to go to the clinic, where the trucks awaited to take them to the forest.

After officially inaugurating our new Special Care Unit (SCU) facility at Samboja Lestari, the Swiss Ambassador to Indonesia, Mrs. Yvonne Baumann together with the Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Dr. Ir. Tachrir Fathoni symbolically released the four orangutans bound for Kehje Sewen, before the orangutans traveled 20 hours overland to the forest. 

Into The Heart of Borneo
During the journey the orangutans were checked by our vets and technicians continuously and on Wednesday, 2 December 2015, 6 a.m., the orangutan release team arrived in Muara Wahau, the last town before Kehje Sewen Forest. Four hours later, the team stopped to switch to smaller pick-ups because the road was simply too difficult for the trucks to pass through. The orangutans were also moved from the large transport cages to smaller ones for efficiency.

After the orangutan transfer to smaller, easier to carry transport cages was complete, Vet Agnes again examined the condition of four orangutans and gave them more fluids. Its a long final journey for our orangutans and we have to make sure they are as comfortable as possible during the entire process.

The journey recommenced. After 1 hour, the pick-up trucks reached the point where the road ends, 300 meters from Telen River. From here, the 4 orangutans had to be hand-carried down a very steep trail we dub the “Climb of Hell” for its extreme slope elevation to the bank of Telen River. Each cage was hung between two long bamboo sticks for easier carry. Even though the distance is only 300 meters, it took us about 1 hour to finish the whole cage-lifting process to the river bank.

At the river bank, the Kehje Sewen release team took over and transported the cages safely across the river. The transport cages were moved using a small long boat, we call a “ces”. This is the easiest part of the trip and we took only 5 minutes to cross the river. Across the Telen river, a short yet steep climb waited. However, the difficult terrain did not discourage the team and we continued the climb to take these four orangutans back to their home.

On top of the hill, another two 4x4 pick-up trucks were waiting for the orangutans. Each truck can carry 2 cages plus release crews to the release points, about 2 kilometers away from Nles Mamse Camp in the southern part of Kehje Sewen. Slippery trails, as the result of heavy rain the night before, delayed us and it took 2 hours to reach the release points.

Home Sweet Home
Hanung was the first to be released. Dr. Elisabeth Labes, Head of International Projects and Partner Relations, also one of the co-founders of BOS Switzerland had the honor of opening Hanung’s cage. Hanung seemed a bit disoriented and it took him a while before grabbed the nearest liana and started to climb higher and higher. Hanung was free!

Next was Bungan, released by the BOS Foundation’s CEO, Dr. Ir. Jamartin Sihite. Unlike Hanung, Bungan did not waste her time. She quickly climbed up a Macaranga tree and started to eat the ripe fruit.

The Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) technician of the year in Nles Mamse Camp, Jafar, released Joni, who went straight to the nearest tree, joining Bungan.

Teresa’s transport cage was the last to be opened by Maria Ulfah, from our RHOI finance team. The beautiful Teresa also quickly dashed out and went to the nearest tree.

The PRM team then took over. Each orangutan is followed by two PRM technicians with task of observing and recording data on the orangutans activities each and every day until we assess they have adapted well to their new forest home. Later that night, we were glad to hear the results of the days monitoring.
 

Hanung found and ate fig fruit and young leaves and then he travelled around the area investigating his new home. Late afternoon, he built a nest in a Macaranga tree for a much deserved rest after a long journey. Right before he lay down, Hanung made a kiss-squeak showing his displeasure of human presence nearby, then called it a day.

Bungan fed on Macaranga, and Liana and Artocarpus bark, then quickly built a nest. When rain fell later in the day, she made an umbrella made of Macaranga leaves to protect her from the elements.

Similar to Bungan, Joni ate fig and Liana leaves, then quickly constructed a nest nearby to his feeding tree. Whilst Teresa fed everytime she moved to a new tree. Right before it got dark, Teresa built a nest of her own in a Macaranga tree.

The arrival of these new four orangutans brings the total number of orangutans released in Kehje Sewen to 40. Interestingly, Bungan and Teresa both originally came from the area around Kehje Sewen Forest. Bungan was handed over to BOS Foundation Samboja Lestari in 2007, by a local person from Samarinda who informed us that Bungan was found somewhere in Muara Wahau. Whilst Teresa was confiscated by BKSDA Tenggarong from a local person in Muara Wahau, and then handed over to the BOS Foundation team at Samboja Lestari in 2010. Both are now literally back where they belong. The difference being that the area they now reside in is safe and focused on long-term orangutan conservation.

Hanung, Bungan, Joni and Teresa have a new life in the forest. The new life they deserve and are entitled to, a life of freedom. From now on, the Kehje Sewen is their new home.

Welcome to your new home!