AN AMAZING ENCOUNTER WITH SVENJA
Our PRM team in the Hiran watershed of TNBBBR conducts phenology surveys and unexpectedly encountered Svenja.
On June 1, a joint rescue team from the BKSDA of Central Kalimantan and BOSF Nyaru Menteng successfully rescued a baby female orangutan aged 4-5 months in Bereng Rambang village, Pulang Pisau Regency, Central Kalimantan. In mid-May, a team from the East Kalimantan BKSDA and BOSF Samboja Lestari also succeeded in rescuing a baby orangutan; a little boy aged between 1-2 years.
Mema in Recovery
The baby girl, whom we have named Mema, came to us in a terrible condition; she was weak and weighed only 2.3 kilograms.
Mema was found by a local villager who claimed to have come across her whilst searching for firewood in a burned peat area. He took Mema to the local village chief, Mr. Iin, who reported the finding to our team in Nyaru Menteng.
After a 4-hour trip, the rescue team arrived at Mr. Iin’s house and saw Mema lying on her back inside a box, weak and groaning. It was such a tragic sight. Maryos Tandang, our vet from Nyaru Menteng, carefully lifted her out and examined her, assisted by Yuke Novia Hardianti, a vet from the Central Kalimantan BKSDA.
The initial examination revealed a wound on Mema’s right arm and small lumps on her torso and hip, suspected to be from air rifle pellets. Sadly, the discovery of these wounds indicates that Mema’s mother was more than likely shot and killed in the forest. Mema is currently in our intensive care unit at Nyaru Menteng, where she has undergone a full examination and will spend the next two months in quarantine.
Serge Rescued in East Kalimantan
On International Endangered Species Day (May 20), our team from Samboja Lestari together with the East Kalimantan BKSDA rescued a baby male orangutan being illegally held captive by a local resident in North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan.
Upon rescue, the orangutan showed no fear of humans, which was a good indication he had been held captive for quite some time.
Our medical team and a babysitter immediately took Serge into their care and conducted an initial examination, in which Serge was found to be healthy and quite active. He was brought to BOSF Samboja Lestari for rehabilitation, where he will learn how to be a wild orangutan.
Like other orangutans that come into our care, Serge underwent a comprehensive health exam and will have to spend a period in quarantine. During this time he is being cared for by our dedicated babysitters, and will be provided vitamins and undergo regular check-ups with our medical team.
At the Samboja Lestari clinic, Serge eats all the fruits offered to him by our babysitters and is drinking well.
There are several orangutans under our care awaiting reintroduction to the wild. Many others are still undertaking their period of rehabilitation in the Forest School. Sadly, orphaned orangutans keep arriving at our centres, indicating orangutan mothers are still being killed in the forest. We need support from all stakeholders to ensure this stops occurring. The BKSDA of Central and East Kalimantan, and other authorities and institutions, have assisted us but we need stricter law enforcement to ensure protection of Bornean orangutans and their habitat.