Background Story

On January 3, 2025, the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation welcomed a new baby orangutan at the Samboja Lestari Rehabilitation Center. The story of this female orangutan, named Jenny, began when a resident of Pendamaran Village, East Kalimantan claimed to have found her alone in an oil palm plantation. Mistaking her for a macaque, he took the baby home and kept her as a pet for five months. Upon arrival at Samboja Lestari, Jenny was immediately taken to the orangutan clinic for a thorough health check, including weighing, collecting blood samples, and checking her teeth. Jenny was estimated to be between 1 and 2 years old and was in overall good health.

Jenny Today

Jenny is now in forest school at BOS Foundation’s Samboja Lestari Rehabilitation Center in East Kalimantan. While initially Jenny was often scared, crying and clinging to surrogate mothers, it only took one month for her to begin to show progress. She has started to participate in Forest School activities and is learning to recognize natural forest foods and how to climb trees. Every day, Jenny’s health and skills continue to improve. She is growing into a smart, active, and quick-learning young orangutan. With the loving guidance of dedicated caregivers at Samboja Lestari, Jenny is steadily making her way toward a braver, freer life in her natural habitat.