THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING ORANGUTAN HABITAT
Orangutan Day is celebrated every year on August 19th!
One of the essential parts of the orangutan reintroduction process is the preparation of enrichment for each orangutan in the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation rehabilitation centres, in both East and Central Kalimantan. Enrichment provides positive stimulation so that orangutans can practice their survival skills and are challenged mentally.
Our dedicated team provides this enrichment daily to help meet the needs of the orangutans at the rehabilitation centre. Who are the people behind this effort? Let's get to know our enrichment teams at both of our rehabilitation centres, located in Samboja Lestari and in Nyaru Menteng.
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First, let’s fly to the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and meet four members of our enrichment team: Hamdani, Siti Sundari, Agustinus, and Muhammad Frandi Junianto. They were previously from different divisions but were eventually transferred to the same team, the enrichment team. Sundari first started at the BOS Foundation as an orangutan surrogate mother. "After that, I was asked to assist the medical team and now I have been transferred to the enrichment division," explained the 37-year-old woman. Sundari admitted that it was the work with the orangutans where she found valuable experiences and first began to love her job.
Similar to Sundari, Hamdani was placed as a forest school technician and medical team assistant before finally becoming the coordinator of the enrichment team. "The most unforgettable thing is seeing the orangutans we had cared for finally be ready for release and getting to witness the release process. It is a unique sense of satisfaction," said Hamdani. Likewise, Agustinus gained unique new experiences after he joined the enrichment division. "I once fell from a tree at a height of about two meters, got bitten by an orangutan, and even had orangutan feces on my work clothes," Agustinus shared as he reminisced and laughed.
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The youngest member of the enrichment team, Frandi, shared that he joined the BOS Foundation out of curiosity and a growing interest in orangutans. "I really enjoy working outdoors and I am also curious about orangutans, about how they live," he stated. Working closely with wildlife is certainly not easy, however, this does not diminish the spirit of our colleagues who dedicate themselves to working with orangutans. Frandi also mentioned that in the future he hopes to make more useful contributions while being part of the enrichment division.
After getting to know our enrichment team members at Samboja Lestari, let's head to Central Kalimantan and meet our enrichment team at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. They are Jhon Leo, Ade Candra, Rahman, Mulyadi, Petrus Juliadi, and Nano. Leo has been a part of the BOS Foundation since 1999. Eleven years after joining, he was appointed as the enrichment team coordinator. "I used to think that orangutans fought like humans, hitting each other. I didn't know that when orangutans do fight, they do so by biting," said Leo. Both he and Mulyadi were at first uncomfortable with orangutans, but with time, they have grown to be quite adept at dealing with these orange apes. Their skills and quiet confidence are all thanks to their 25 years of experience working with great apes.
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Seven years later, in 2007, Candra and Rahman joined Leo and Mulyadi in the enrichment division. Candra shared that he initially joined the BOS Foundation just to provide for his family. However, over time, this job made him fall in love with orangutans and he became more enthusiastic about dedicating himself. Rahman’s initial focus was to deliver additional enrichment to the pre-release islands. There, we would witness many unforgettable events and learn how to deal with dominant and large male orangutans.
In 2011, Petrus joined the BOS Foundation as a technician. After taking leave for an injury, Petrus was transferred to the enrichment team where he helps to prepare enrichment for the orangutans living in cage complexes. In the same year, the youngest member of the enrichment team, Nano, also joined. Unlike Leo or Rahman, Nano had a memorable impression of an orangutan named Cetah. "While I was taking care of her, Cetah was very cooperative, not naughty, and didn't bother me," he explained. Nano also mentioned that Cetah still remembers him when he now visits her on Kaja Island. This female orangutan will still approach him in a comfortable and friendly manner whenever she spots Nano.
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The role of our enrichment team is critical for the orangutan rehabilitation process. Without them, the orangutan reintroduction process would certainly not run as smoothly. As John C. Maxwell said, "Teamwork makes the dream work," good teamwork produces brilliant results!