Background Story

Jelapat is a young male orangutan whose life was shaped by the devastating forest fires that swept across Borneo in late 2015. As habitat was destroyed, displaced orangutans were forced closer to human settlements, where many adult orangutans were killed and their babies taken.

In June 2016, the BOS Foundation learned of a baby orangutan being kept illegally as a pet after photos surfaced on social media. A joint rescue team was quickly deployed to South Barito, Central Kalimantan, where they found a young orangutan dressed in children’s clothing and held in captivity.

A local villager said he had found Jelapat alone and weak months earlier along the Barito River after fires destroyed the surrounding forest. Jelapat’s mother had almost certainly died during that time, as orangutan mothers never abandon their infants. Jelapat was kept in a small cage and fed human food until he was surrendered to authorities and transferred to the BOS Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre. He was estimated to be around 18 months old at rescue.

Jelapat Today

After arrival at BOS Nyaru Menteng, Jelapat entered quarantine and began the long rehabilitation process shared by all orphaned orangutans. He joined Forest School Group 5, where his intelligence and social confidence quickly stood out. Jelapat formed strong bonds with other young orangutans, especially his close companions Talaken and Taymur.

Caregivers often noted Jelapat’s clever behavior, including a memorable incident where he grabbed a bag of watermelon from his caregivers, escaped into the trees, and later attempted to sneak back for more.

Jelapat has also shown resilience during challenges. After briefly contracting malaria, he spent time in the clinic for treatment and made a full recovery. Today, Jelapat lives on Salat Island in the Badak Besar pre-release area. Agile and observant, he moves confidently through the forest and feeding platforms, avoiding conflict with larger orangutans by relying on patience and awareness.

Jelapat’s adaptability, intelligence, and steady progress show strong potential for a future release. By symbolically adopting him, you help support his continued care as he works toward life back in the wild.