MOM Archive
This year's M.O.M. banner features orphaned orangutan Janet. She is lovingly cared for by Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) at their quarantine center near Medan, Indonesia. Like hundreds of other orangutans, Janet was separated from her mother as a baby and experienced much trauma before being rescued by SOCP in August 2022. Janet arrived malnourished and distressed but is now receiving much tender loving care. Prior to her rescue, this sweetheart was being kept in a small crate and being exploited on YouTube. Her captor dressed her in baby clothes, and posted videos of her. We are so thankful her ordeal is over. Orangutans and other primates should never be kept as pets or used for entertainment. Janet will undergo years of rehabilitation with the goal of one day being able to return to the forest where she belongs. Little Janet attends "forest school" where she is learning to climb trees, build sleeping nests, and forage for food. All this is completed under the supervision of human caregivers, since Janet and the other babies have Missing Orangutan Mothers. You can virtually adopt Janet for USD $15/month (or USD $150/year).
The 2022 M.O.M. banner features orphaned orangutans Gaia (left) and Brenda (right). They are lovingly cared for by Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) at their quarantine center near Medan, Indonesia. Like hundreds of other orangutans, Gaia and Brenda were taken from their mothers as babies and experienced much trauma before being rescued by SOCP. Brenda arrived with a broken arm that required surgery to repair. Together with other babies, Gaia and Brenda are part of the Infant Group and are beginning to thrive. They attend "forest school" where they learn to climb trees, build sleeping nests, and forage for food. All this is completed under the supervision of their human caregivers, since the babies are Missing Orangutan Mothers. When not in the forest, the babies are together in their Infant House enclosure. Spending nights and parts of the day in a cage is the reality for rescued orangutans. The goal is always to get them out of cages and back to the rainforest where they belong. This is the work YOU can help support!
The 2021 M.O.M. banner features lovely Rika and her adopted son, Aben. Little Aben was rescued and brought into the care of International Animal Rescue (IAR) in December of 2019. At that time, the IAR team was having success pairing orphans with older female orangutans at the center. (See the story of Monti and baby Anggun here) They felt Aben would benefit greatly from having an orangutan mother. In the Fall of 2020 the IAR team decided on Rika to be the adoptive mother for Aben. The two were put together and the bonding process was very promising. Aben and Rika were often seen hugging affectionately. Aben cried if separated from Rika, and Rika would be angry if Aben was taken from her. It seemed to be love at first sight! This newly formed mother/baby pair moved to a pre-release island on the grounds of the IAR orangutan center. With joy the team observed as Rika became an excellent mother to Aben. Rika will protect Aben and teach him important survival skills. The plan is for the two to be released back into the wild together.
Photo of Manisha & Baby Meteor © BOSF 2020 Andrea Knox
The 2020 M.O.M. banner features Manisha and her baby son, Meteor. Theirs is a true success story! Manisha was rescued as a youngster in 2000 and then spent almost 14 years under the care of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF). She was released to Bukit Batikap Forest in 2013 as a truly rehabilitated orangutan. Beautifully and remarkably, Manisha became a marvelous mother! In August 2018, Meteor arrived, born wild and free. Manisha is an attentive, protective, excellent mother. She provides her baby with everything she did not have. Manisha and Meteor are a shining example of the perfect orangutan mother-child relationship!
The 2019 M.O.M. banner features orphaned orangutans Valentino, Yutris, and Momot. They are three of the hundreds of orangutans who attend the BOS Foundation’s jungle school at Nyaru Menteng in Borneo. They are learning skills that one day will enable them to live as wild orangutans. All three star in the new series Orangutan Jungle School. All donations from our 2019 M.O.M. campaign were allocated to BOS Nyaru Menteng for the continued rehabilitation of Valentino, Yutris, Momot and their friends!
The 2018 M.O.M. banner featured first-time mother Ebol and her beautiful baby girl Eden. They are living in BOS Nyaru Menteng's Batikap Release Forest, which is located deep in the Heart of Borneo. The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation has released more than 100 rehabilitated orangutans into the protected forest over the last few years and these rehabilitated orangutans are now having babies of their own. Read more about the release program here. These rehabilitated orangutans are creating a new, wild orangutan population.
The 2017 M.O.M. banner featured Zoo Atlanta's Madu and baby Keju. When Keju's biological mother at Wisconsin's Henry Vilas Zoo was unable to provide appropriate maternal care for her, zoo staff made the difficult but necessary decision to find her a surrogate mother. Although Madu has never had offspring of her own, she has an outstanding track record for surrogacy. It was love at first sight as Keju grabbed onto Madu and never let go! Madu accepted the youngster as her own and the two have been together ever since. Keju is Madu’s fourth foster child and first foster daughter. Photo of Madu and Keju courtesy of Zoo Atlanta. Fun fact: the word 'keju' is Indonesian for 'cheese'.
We had a special treat in 2016: 2 mothers & babies in 1! Bornean orangutans Josie & Baby Gojo and Hadiah & Baby Topi from Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo donned our MOM poster. Special thanks to Zoo Photographer Dave Parkinson for allowing us to use his photo.
In 2015 we couldn't make up our mind which banner to use so we chose two! They feature two lovely girls from the St Louis Zoo. Sumatran Orangutan Mom Merah and her amazingly gorgeous baby girl, Ginger, will make your heart swoon. Special thanks to Robin Winkelman for being kind enough to let us use her photos and to designer Laura Mendoza for creating the banners.
Photo of Astrid and Astro © BOSF
Gober and the Twins ~ © SOCP/Jessica McKelson
The 2012 M.O.M. Campaign was dedicated to a very special baby named Luna. This precious angel 'disappeared' under very suspicious circumstances from her rescue center in 2011... Luna shall remain in our hearts forever. We will never forget her.
Learn more about the tragic loss of Baby Luna.
