Four Orangutans Released into Their Natural Habitat in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Synopsis

On January 16, it was reported that four orangutans were released into a protected forest in East Kalimantan, Indonesia after completing their rehabilitation. This initiative aims to support their reintegration into the wild and boost the local orangutan population.

Key Takeaways

Four orangutans released in East Kalimantan.
Rehabilitation program completed.
Paluy is an 18-year-old male; Bonti, Jojo, and Mary are females aged 10-12.
The release supports orangutan population growth.
Data shows a rise in orangutan populations from 2014 to 2022.

Jakarta, Jan 16 (NationPress) A total of four orangutans have been successfully released into a designated forest area in the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan after they completed their rehabilitation program, as reported by the province's regional conservation agency on Thursday.

The East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Centre (BKSDA) announced that the release of these four orangutans, which are named Paluy, Bonti, Jojo, and Mary, occurred in the Gunung Batu Mesangat Protected Forest located in the East Kutai region last Saturday.

According to the agency, Paluy, an 18-year-old male, was rescued after experiencing negative interactions in July of the previous year. He subsequently received medical care until his recovery and was finally set free into the wild.

Bonti, Jojo, and Mary, all females aged 12, 12, and 10 respectively, were previously kept as pets by local residents. They were rescued by the agency between the years 2017 and 2019, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

“The release is aimed at providing them with a chance to thrive in their natural environment. This action will also contribute to the increase of orangutan populations in their native habitats,” stated Ari Wibawanto, the head of the agency.

He elaborated that captive orangutans must undergo a rehabilitation program to regain their natural behaviors and reduce their reliance on humans. During their time at the rehabilitation center, they learned to live independently in the forest, Wibawanto added.

Data from the Forestry Ministry indicates that there has been an increase in the orangutan population across 24 monitoring sites in Sumatra and Kalimantan, from 1,441 in 2014 to 2,431 in 2022.

In July of last year, Indonesia celebrated the birth of a new baby Sumatran orangutan at the Orangutan Reintroduction Centre located in the Jantho Nature Reserve in the Aceh province.

This nature reserve, which is home to a diverse range of wildlife, has recorded its seventh orangutan birth since the reintroduction program commenced in 2011.