ARE ORANGUTANS EMPATHETIC?
It was a usual day at the Nyaru Menteng forest school, where young orangutans were learning from one another while their human surrogate mothers looked on from below.
Launching our 2017 #FREEDOM campaign, BOS Foundation through the Samboja Lestari East Kalimantan Orangutan Reintroduction Program (Samboja Lestari) and the East Kalimantan BKSDA release 7 more orangutans into Kehje Sewen Forest in East Kutai Regency, East Kalimantan. This is their profile
Elisa was rescued from a Samarinda resident by the East Kalimantan BKSDA and brought to Samboja Lestari on August 2, 1993, when she was only 1 year old.
As the years passed, Elisa grew into a strong individual, and in 2008 was moved to Pre-Release Island #5 to continue her rehabilitation. In 2012, Elisa was moved to Island #2, as Island #5 became designated specifically for mother-infant pairs. During her time on both islands, Elisa became a good explorer and nest-builder.
Elisa is now 25 years old and weighs 54 kilograms and ready to return to the wild in Kehje Sewen Forest.
Wardah was rescued from a Jambi resident by the Jambi BKSDA in Sumatra, and handed over to the East Kalimantan BKSDA. She arrived at Samboja Lestari on March 18, 2002, when she was five years old.
After passing the quarantine period, Wardah joined Forest School. Over the years, she has shown extraordinary progress and has become a good forager and nest-builder. During her time in Forest School, Wardah has been a popular and friendly individual.
Wardah is now 19 years old and weighs 49 kilograms. After 15 years of rehabilitation, she will be returned to freedom in the Kehje Sewen Forest.
Eris was rescued by local authorities in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, from a local resident who was keeping her illegally as a pet. She was only four years old when she came to Samboja Lestari.
After passing the mandatory quarantine period in 2004, she joined Forest School Level 2 to begin her rehabilitation. In Forest School, Eris was a clever individual who quickly embraced new skills. She also loved to explore, and spent most of her time up in the tops of trees.
Now 20 years old and weighing 36 kilograms, Eris firmly dislikes human presence. With the skills she has perfected, she is now ready to return to natural habitat in Kehje Sewen Forest
Emmy came to Wanariset Samboja (now known as Samboja Lestari) from Samarinda on June 16, 1997. At the time, she was just 1 year old.
Thanks to the loving care provided by our dedicated team, after several years of rehabilitation, she joined her peers on Island #6, one of the manmade islands at Samboja Lestari. In 2015, she was moved to Island #2 after Island #6 was readied to house Bujang, an unreleasable, cheek-pad male at Samboja Lestari. During her time on the islands, Emmy loved to explore, and spent most of her time alone up in the trees.
Emmy is now 21 years old, weighs 51 kilograms and is ready to live as an independent orangutan in the Kehje Sewen Forest.
Wulani came from Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, and arrived at Samboja Lestari on March 20, 2007, when she was 10 years old. At the time, she exhibited wild behaviours.
In 2010, Wulani was ready to live on Island #6 together with Emmy. Like Emmy, Wulani was also moved to Island #2 in 2015 to make way for Bujang. During her time on Samboja Lestari’s manmade islands, Wulani avoided our technicians and would only take fruit from the feeding platform once the team had moved away from the island.
Wulani is now 20 years old, weighs 41 kilograms and after 10 years in the rehabilitation centre, she will soon enjoy the freedom of the Kehje Sewen Forest.
Cemong was rescued by the Banjarbaru BKSDA from Maskot Park, an amusement park in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on May 29, 2001. He arrived at Samboja Lestari in a good condition when he was just four years old.
Cemong displayed a dislike for humans during his time at Samboja Lestari, but was always friendly toward other orangutans.
Within this orangutan release from Samboja Lestari, Cemong is the biggest male, weighing a mighty 125 kilograms! In his 20th year, Cemong is ready to embrace freedom in the wilds of the Kehje Sewen Forest.
Beni was handed over to the BOS Foundation Samboja Lestari from the Animal Rescue Center PPS Tegal Alur in Jakarta on December 4, 2006, when he was 10 years old.
Beni displayed purely wild behaviours, indicating that he had had minimum to nil interactions with humans. However, he was quite friendly toward his peers.
Beni is now 21 years old, weighs 45 kilograms and is developing cheek-pads. Very soon, Beni will enjoy freedom in his new home, the Kehje Sewen Forest.
It was a usual day at the Nyaru Menteng forest school, where young orangutans were learning from one another while their human surrogate mothers looked on from below.
Our Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team at Camp Himba Pambelum in Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park (TNBBBR), Central Kalimantan, encountered Suci, a young female orangutan, three times back in 2023.
Kopral has been receiving treatment at the clinic since April 2023 due to wounds on the sole of his right foot and fungus between his toes.
