Mama Signe and Baby Rafalang
Date Posted: April 10, 2025
Text by: BOS Foundation Biodiversity-PRM Team, PT. RHOI in Kehje Sewen Forest, East Kalimantan
The Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team in the southern part of the Kehje Sewen Forest encountered orangutan Signe and her baby again in late 2024. The baby, who initially had no name, was eventually given the name Rafalang, a combination of the names of the observers who met them that day — Rangga, Rasya, Farhan, and Galang.
Encounter with Signe and Rafalang
The PRM team came across Signe and Rafalang while resting near Pondok #2, before continuing their patrol. As they scanned their surroundings, they spotted Signe and Rafalang resting in the treetops. The team took this opportunity to conduct an observation.
Read more: Signe: Amazing Mother and Teacher
Signe noticed the team’s presence, and Rafalang even let out a brief fearful sound. However, the baby quickly seemed reassured in his mother’s arms. Signe and Rafalang gradually descended to the forest floor, allowing the PRM team to observe their behavior for about two hours.
During the observation, Signe and Rafalang displayed a variety of activities. They were seen moving from place to place while chewing on natural food sources. The calmness of the day provided the perfect moment for both orangutans to rest beneath the thick canopy of trees. This observation was also a new experience for the team, as they were using a new ethogram for the first time. Despite its differences from the previous system, they quickly adapted and efficiently recorded the data.
Signe’s Visit to Camp Nles Mamse
The following day, Signe and Rafalang surprised the team once again by appearing behind Camp Nles Mamse. While monitoring the area, the team observed Signe foraging for food and finding tubers near the river behind the camp. She spent quite some time eating in the trees before disappearing back into the forest.
Read more: A New Friend of the Family
Signe’s presence for two consecutive days was an unexpected yet exciting moment for the PRM team. We hope Signe and Rafalang remain healthy and thrive in the Kehje Sewen Forest, where they now live as truly wild orangutans.