BOS Nyaru Menteng: Candidate Profiles for the 30th Orangutan Release

September 3, 2019 — Eight more lucky orangutans from BOS Nyaru Menteng are being released back into the forest! Meet the candidates! Stay tuned for info on the release expedition! Good luck everyone! 🙂

1. TOM

Tom was rescued from a villager in Kasongan, Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan, on 27 January 2004. He came to BOS Foundation’s Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre at the age of 10 months and weighed 6.2 kilograms.

After passing quarantine, Tom joined Forest School and successfully completed all stages. On 3 September 2016, he was moved to Bangamat Pre-release Island to undertake the final stage of rehabilitation. During his time on Bangamat, Tom socialised with many other orangutans, explored the entire island, and developed a sound survival skillset.

Having undergone more than a decade of rehabilitation, 16-year-old Tom – now a healthy 32 kilograms – is ready to live wild and free in the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.

2. TOBY

On 1 June 2012, Toby was rescued from a palm-oil plantation worker in Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan. He was three years old when he arrived at Nyaru Menteng and weighed 7 kilograms.

After passing a mandatory period of quarantine, Toby joined Forest School where he developed his survival skills. On 23 November 2017, Toby advanced to the last stage of rehabilitation on Bangamat Pre-release Island and was later moved to Kaja Island on 7 September 2018. On the pre-release islands, Toby grew into a solitary individual who liked to explore.

Toby is now 10 years old and weighs 30 kilograms. Soon, this handsome orangutan with narrow eyes and thick hair will be exploring his new home in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park as a true, wild orangutan.

3. ELLY

Elly was rescued by a joint team from BOS Foundation’s Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), from the village of Tewang Darayu, Gunung Mas Regency, on 27 April 2006. She had allegedly been held captive by a local villager for a period of 10 days. She came to Nyaru Menteng at the age of three and weighed 8.6 kilograms.

In 2014, Elly disappeared from Forest School and three days later she was found, with a severely wounded left eye, in a nearby field that belonged to a local villager. Elly was rushed to the clinic for emergency treatment, but her injury was so severe that the medical team was forced to remove her damaged eye.

Despite missing an eye, Elly successfully completed all stages of forest school and advanced to the pre-release stage of rehabilitation on Kaja Island, on 13 April 2017.

After 13 long years of rehabilitation at Nyaru Menteng, 16-year-old Elly is now ready to live as a true, wild orangutan in the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.

4. DINI

Dini was rescued from a palm-oil plantation in East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan. She was four years old and weighed 16 kilograms when she arrived at Nyaru Menteng on 22 April 2010.

After passing quarantine and undergoing years of rehabilitation in Forest School, Dini was moved to Kaja Island on 13 April 2017, to begin the pre-release stage of rehabilitation. During her time on the island, Dini was known as a gentle individual who loved to socialise. She explored far and wide over the island and avoided humans.

Dini is now 13 years old and weighs 35 kilograms. Equipped with a comprehensive survival skillset, Dini is more than ready to enjoy freedom in the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.

5. SALU

Salu was rescued from a local villager in Pundu, East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan, on 19 February 2005. He had been kept illegally as a pet, and during his time in captivity was fed only leftover rice and water. He came to Nyaru Menteng in a poor condition as he was three years old, but weighed only 6.5 kilograms.

Salu completed his quarantine and then joined Forest School. He advanced to the pre-release stage on Salat Island on 5 April 2017. Time on the island gave Salu the opportunity to further develop his natural skills, as he spent his time exploring the island and socialising with others.

Salu, now 17 years old, is more than ready to roam the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park as a true, wild orangutan.

6. RANDANG

On 16 June 2007, Randang was rescued from a villager in Timpah, Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan. She arrived at BOS Foundation’s Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre at the age of 18 months, weighing 5 kilograms.

After passing quarantine, Randang joined Forest School and successfully completed all stages. On 19 March 2014, she was moved to pre-release Palas Island and later to pre-release Bangamat Island on 19 April 2018, to undergo the final stages of rehabilitation. In the islands, Randang grew into an excellent explorer and socialised with many other orangutans, but she disliked human presence.

After years of honing her natural skills, the 14-year-old Randang, now weighing 36.4 kilograms, will soon live wild and free in the forests of Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.

7. TARWAN

Tarwan was repatriated from Thailand on 22 November 2006, alongside 47 other orangutans. She was five years old at the time and weighed 20 kilograms.

After completing quarantine, Tarwan joined Forest School and passed all stages with flying colours. On 23 November 2017, she progressed to the pre-release stage of rehabilitation on Bangamat Island, but was then moved to Kaja Island the following year. She became an avid explorer and adept forager during her time on the islands, avoided competition with other orangutans, and formed a strong dislike for human presence.

Tarwan is now 18 years old and weighs 38 kilograms. Soon she will roam free as a true, wild orangutan in the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.

8. BUNGSU

Bungsu was rescued from a local villager in Parenggean, East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan on 30 January 2008. She arrived at Nyaru Menteng when she was six years old and weighed 20 kilograms.

After completing the mandatory quarantine, Bungsu joined the other orphaned orangutans in Forest School. After graduating from Forest School, she proceeded to the pre-release stage on Bangamat Island on 7 June 2016, and was moved to Kaja Island on 20 August 2018. She was known as a social character on the island who was indifferent to human presence.

After 11 years of rehabilitation, 17-year-old Bungsu has mastered her survival skills and now weighs 40 kilograms. She is more than ready to live free as a true, wild orangutan in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.

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