BOS NYARU MENTENG 18th ORANGUTAN RELEASE CANDIDATE PROFILES

Learn more about the BOS Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Release Program

1. TUHE

Tuhe was confiscated from a resident of Tumbang Mantuhe village, Gunung Mas Regency, Central Kalimantan, and taken to Nyaru Menteng on April 15, 2004. He was only 18 months old at the time, weighed 4.4 kilograms, and was in a very poor condition. Dehydrated and thin from malnutrition, Tuhe had skinny limbs and a protruding stomach, and his left arm showed signs of injury.

After passing a mandatory period of quarantine, Tuhe entered Forest School to begin his rehabilitation. He went through all the stages of Forest School and graduated to the pre-release stage on Kaja Island, where he was moved on July 5, 2015.

Tuhe, who has become a good forager, is now 15 years old and weighs 43.7 kilograms. He likes to roam far, and has grown into a handsome individual with a trademark part in the middle of his hair. After 13 years of rehabilitation at Nyaru Menteng, Tuge is ready to experience the natural habitat of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.

2. TUBAGUS

Tubagus was rescued on August 17, 2005, after being kept illegally as a pet by a local resident of Mantangai Village, in Kapuas Regency. He arrived at Nyaru Menteng severely malnourished and dehydrated, and was an underweight 2.5-year-old at only 5.5 kilograms.

Tubagus worked through the rehabilitation stages of Forest School and was moved to the pre-release habitat of Bangamat Island in February 2015. A keen explorer, he was rarely seen around the feeding platform, preferring instead to forage for forest food. While not an aggressive orangutan by nature, Tubagus is nonetheless very good at reading situations and is able to defend himself when required.

Tubagus is now 15 years old with a thin beard, and weighs 47.4 kilograms. After 12 years of rehabilitation, Tubagus will soon become a true wild orangutan alongside his close female friend, Geragu.

3. OTONG

Otong was rescued from Parenggean Village, Kotawaringin Timur Regency, Central Kalimantan, in June 2003. He was two years old at the time and weighed only 5.5 kilograms.

Curious Otong progressed through the stages of Forest School, and in 2015 was moved to the pre-release habitat of Bangamat Island, where he becamea skilful forager.

Now a handsome, long-haired 16-year-old weighing 41.1 kilograms, Otong is more than ready to taste freedom in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.

4. CAMERON

Cameron was confiscated from a resident of Parenggean Village in Kotawaringin Timur Regency on April 14, 2004, through a joint-team effort between the Central Kalimantan BKSDA and the BOS Foundation. This tiny female arrived at Nyaru Menteng in a very poor condition, aged around 18 months and weighing 6.5 kilograms.

After moving through several stages of Forest School, Cameron graduated and advanced to the pre-release stage on Kaja Island in June 2013. She spent a lot of time on Kaja exploring her surroundings and making friends with her fellow inhabitants.

Cameron is now 15 years old and weighs 37.3 kilograms. After 13 years of rehabilitation, and with the experiences gained from her time on a pre-release island, she is now ready to explore the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park as a true wild orangutan.

5. MARIAM

Mariam was brought to Nyaru Menteng after being confiscated from a resident of Sebabi Village, Kotawaringin Timur Regency, Central Kalimantan, on May 29, 2009. At the time she was just three years old and weighed 16 kilograms.

This gentle and charming girl with an oval face and round eyes, graduated from Forest School in March 2014 to continue her rehabilitation process on pre-release Kaja Island, where she was a curious explorer.

Armed with a sound survival skillset gained over her eight years of rehabilitation at Nyaru Menteng, Mariam is more than ready to return to a natural habitat. Now 11 years old and weighing 32.3 kilograms, Mariam is destined to become a great explorer in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.

6. GERAGU

Geragu arrived at Nyaru Menteng on August 20, 2004, aged two years and weighing 5.3 kilograms. She was rescued in a joint-team effort between the BOS Foundation Nyaru Menteng and the Central Kalimantan BKSDA, from a resident of Geragu Village, Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan, who was keeping her illegally as a pet.

An intelligent individual, Geragu thrived throughout her Forest School years and quickly built up a sound skillset. After graduating from Forest School, she was transferred to Kaja Island in February 2016, to test her survival skills in a natural habitat.

An avid explorer, Geragu is now 15 years old and weighs 44.3 kilograms. After 13 years of rehabilitation and honing her skills at Nyaru Menteng, Geragu is now ready to explore the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park with her good friend, Tubagus.

7. HEIDI

Heidi arrived at Nyaru Menteng after being rescued from a local villager in Henda, Pulang Pisau Regency, Central Kalimantan, on October 20, 2006. She was 2.5 years old and weighed only 4.1 kilograms.

Charming, narrow-eyed Heidi progressed through the stages of Forest School and moved to the pre-release rehabilitation stage on Kaja Island in July 2015. On Kaja Island, Heidi proved to be a kind individual that easily socialized with other orangutans.

Now 14 years old and weighing 35.4 kilograms, Heidi has learned all that she can from her 11 years of rehabilitation and is fully prepared to live as a true wild orangutan in the forest.

8. PAK EDI

Pak Edi was confiscated from a local resident in Jakarta on July 19, 2003. He was only three years old at the time of his rescue and weighed 7.5 kilograms.

Following a routine period of quarantine, Pak Edi joined Forest School to being his rehabilitation. In February 2016, he entered the final pre-release stage of rehabilitation and was moved to Kaja Island, where he enjoyed exploring and foraging for termites - one of his favourite foods.

Pak Edi is now 14 years old and weighs 50.6 kilograms. During his time at Nyaru Menteng, he learned all the skills required to survive in a true, wild forest. Pak Edi will soon get the chance to live free in the wilderness of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.

9. SURYANI

Suryani was confiscated from a resident of Pangkalan Bun, Kotawaringin Barat Regency, Central Kalimantan. She arrived at Nyaru Menteng on April 16, 2007, when she was two years old and weighed 8.5 kilograms.

After passing all the Forest School stages, gentle and sociable Suryani continued her road to rehabilitation on pre-release Bangamat Island in November 2014. Her foraging skills improved significantly during her time on Bangamat, and bark became her favourite food.

Suryani is now 12 years old and weighs 29.15 kilograms. After 10 years of rehabilitation, Suryani is ready to put all of her skills to the test in a true, wild forest.

10. NIKEN

Niken arrived at Wanariset Samboja on July 13, 1999, after being handed over to the BOS Foundation by the Banjarmasin BKSDA. At the time she was just two years old and weighed eight kilograms.

During her training in Samboja Lestari’s Forest School, Niken was a very active and smart student that always strived to learn new survival skills. She formed a close relationship with Leke, who was released to the Kehje Sewen Forest, in East Kalimantan, in March 2014. On April 18, 2014, Niken was transferred to Nyaru Menteng, after being identified as a Pongo pygmaeus wurmbiisubspecies of Bornean Orangutans.

After three years at Nyaru Menteng, Niken can now finally walk the same path as her pal Leke, and live as a true, wild orangutan. Now 20 years old and weighing 52.1 kilograms, Niken is ready to experience life in the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.

11. SERUNI

Seruni was rescued from an oil palm plantation area near Parenggean Village, Kotawaringin Timur Regency, Central Kalimantan, on October 16, 2006. She was two years old at the time and weighed seven kilograms.

After graduating from Forest School, round-eyed Seruni was placed on Bangamat Island to begin her pre-release stage of rehabilitation in November 2014. She liked to explore all over the island, and made lots of friends thanks to her sound socialization skills.

Seruni is now 13 years old and weighs 35.9 kilograms. After 11 years of working through all the stages of rehabilitation, Seruni is now ready to explore the wilderness of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park - her new home.

12. ELIN

Elin was rescued on October 15, 2006, from residents of Parenggean Village, Kotawaringin Timur Regency, Central Kalimantan, who had held her captive for two months. She was brought to Nyaru Menteng in good health when she was 2.5 years old and weighed seven kilograms.

In February 2015, Elin started her pre-release process on Kaja Island after completing all the stages of Forest School. On Kaja, highly curious Elin honed her skills and adapted with ease to her new environment and friends.

Elin is now 14 years old and weighs 36.2 kilograms. After nearly 11 years of rehabilitation at Nyaru Menteng, Elin is ready to prove she can live as a true, wild orangutan in the wilds of Central Kalimantan’s Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.

Learn more about the BOS Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Release Program

Text by: BOS Foundation Communications Team

The Orangutans Need Your Help!

Please make a donation to BOS Nyaru Menteng today!

Donate to BOS Nyaru Menteng via PayPal


THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT! {:(|}