Background Story

On October 11, 2022, the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation received a female orangutan who was less than 12 months old at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in Central Kalimantan. At the center, she was named Rumba and immediately received urgent veterinary care. When she arrived, Rumba was covered in old wounds and was very ill, suffering from fever and seizures. The team cared for her around the clock, throughout her 3-month quarantine period. Thanks to their hard work, she made a full recovery and was placed in Forest School.

Rumba Today

After a rough start to life, Rumba has been working hard in forest school at BOS Foundation’s Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Center since 2023. In forest school, Rumba had a large challenge to overcome: her severe illnesses early in life had left her with a bad hand and she struggled to grasp with any strength. Her surrogate mothers tried to get her to climb, but she preferred to take naps in hammocks instead. Despite showing signs of insecurity, Rumba did continue her lessons. With time and support, she learned to overcome her disability and climb trees! Now, she is much more confident and excited to try any new food she comes across. She is healthy and growing stronger every day.