THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

A huge number of orphaned or displaced orangutans have come through our centers over the years and despite the significant effort to halt deforestation in Indonesia, orangutans sadly continue to arrive in all conditions and of all ages.

During January and February 2015, we have received another 4 orangutan babies rescued by the BOS Foundation Nyaru Menteng team in collaboration with the Central Kalimantan (Agency for Wildlife Conservation) BKSDA. Otan, Meryl, Momot, and Valentino are all now new residents our our care and these are their stories.

Otan
Otan is a 2-year old male who arrived at Nyaru Menteng on 7th February 2015, weighing 4.4kgs. Together with our colleagues from the Central Kalimantan BKSDA office, we rescued Otan from a local person in Buntok, the capitol of South Barito Regency, Central Kalimantan. Due to having been kept in captivity for a significant period of time, Otan had lost his wild skills. It is now our task to help Otan relearn how to behave like an orangutan. Currently, Otan is still under quarantine in the nursery group with baby Meryl.

Meryl
You may remember the story of Meryl, who was rescued by our team from Nyaru Menteng in collaboration with Central Kalimantan BKSDA on 7th January2015?. Back then she was in a very poor condition. She was being kept in a small basket inside a local persons house.

Thanks to the loving care given by our babysitters, her condition has improved each day. Now this beautiful baby is actively playing and going through quarantine process in the nursery. Her once injured right arm is now fully healed and she has even gained 2 kgs!

Momot with Meryl
This little 1.5-year old male was confiscated by the SPORC team from BKSDA together with our Nyaru Menteng team. Momot is an orangutan domesticated by a local villager in Petak Bahandang village, Gunung Mas Regency, Central Kalimantan. Momot arrived in Nyaru Menteng on 12th February 2015, and currently is under quarantine in the nursery group, together with Otan, Meryl and Valentino.

Valentino
This little orangutan arrived in Nyaru Menteng on Valentine’s Day this year, hence his name Valentino. Valentino was handed over to us by the BKSDA from East Kotawaringin, and had previously been rescued by a rubber planter by the river in Seluncing-Pundu village, Cempaga Hulu Sub-Regency, East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan. He was found in a very poor condition. There were wounds all over his body, some dried, some fresh, and irritations due to tree sap. Nonetheless, Valentino’s condition has improved significantly under our care within quarantine in nursery group.