BOS Nyaru Menteng: Candidate Profiles for the 32nd Orangutan Release
November 18, 2019 — Eighteen lucky orangutans from BOS Nyaru Menteng— including one mother-baby pair— are being released back into the forest! Meet the candidates! Good luck everyone! 🙂
1. DEA
Dea was born in the Nyaru Menteng quarantine complex on 27 October 2009. Following her birth, Dea and her mother, Du, were kept together in the quarantine complex until they could be transferred to a pre-release island.
On 11 March 2014, Dea and Du were moved to Palas Island. Dea, four years old at the time, had already developed a highly curious nature. She enjoyed exploring the forest and tended to avoid humans. A few short years later, she no longer depended on mother Du. In light of her new independence, Dea was moved to Bangamat Island on 19 April 2018, to further develop her survival skills and natural behaviours.
Dea is now 10 years old and weighs 22.9 kilograms. She has long, thick hair and a piercing gaze. It is only a matter of days before Dea will be enjoying true freedom in the lush wilderness of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
2. DONK
Donk was rescued through a joint operation by the Central Kalimantan BKSDA and BOS Foundation Nyaru Menteng from Padas Village, East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan. He arrived at Nyaru Menteng on 8 April 2009, when he was four years old and weighed 19 kilograms.
After completing the mandatory quarantine period, Donk joined Forest School and later entered the pre-release stage of the rehabilitation process on Kaja Island in April 2017. Highly alert by nature and weary of new people, Donk prefers to spend his time alone as he explored his island home.
Donk is now 14 years old and weighs 32 kilograms. This independent male is undoubtedly ready to live freely in the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park as a true, wild orangutan.
3. IRIANA
Iriana arrived at Nyaru Menteng on 17 January 2015, when she was three years old and weighed 7.8 kilograms. Her rescue was carried out in an area that had been newly cleared for oil palm production, in Baun Bango Village, Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan. Upon rescue, Iriana displayed wild behaviours and kiss-squeaked in distress whenever a human approached her. Despite these wild tendencies, Iriana had to undergo rehabilitation before being released due to the fact she was found without a mother.
After passing quarantine, Iriana started the rehabilitation process when she was moved to Kaja Pre-release Island on 6 July 2017. Due to her firm dislike of humans, she developed a highly alert nature and preferred to roam alone. While not a dominant figure, Iriana is capable of defending herself when required.
Iriana, now 7 years old and weighing 20 kilograms, is more than ready to return to forest life in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
4. MADE AYU
Made Ayu was handed over by the Bali Wildlife Rescue Center and arrived at Nyaru Menteng on 20 December 2005, when she was 2.5 years old and weighed 14 kilograms.
Made Ayu soon joined Forest School, and on 19 August 2017, was placed on Kaja Island to begin the pre-release stage of rehabilitation. Though not aggressive, Made Ayu always does her best to avoid humans. She would spend her days exploring and socialising with other orangutans. While on Kaja Island, Made Ayu was frequently observed with a male orangutan named Sydney.
Made Ayu is now 17 years old and weighs 42.4 kilograms. Soon she will become a true, wild orangutan, living free in the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
5. RUBI
Rubi was rescued in Pontianak City, West Kalimantan, and arrived at Nyaru Menteng on 7 May 2005. At the time, she was still a small 12-month-old, weighing 4.1 kilograms. Prior to her rescue, Rubi was held captive as a pet for 10 months.
Rubi completed all stages of Forest School, then entered the pre-release stage of rehabilitation on Kaja Island on 13 April 2017. On Kaja, Rubi liked to explore and would happily mingle with other orangutans, but ignored humans. There she also mastered the vital life skills of foraging and nest-building.
Now 16 years old and weighing 33 kilograms, Rubi will soon get the chance to prove her independence in the wilds of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
6. SALSA and SALMAH
Salsa was rescued in Sampit City, Kotawaringin Timur Regency, Central Kalimantan, and arrived at Nyaru Menteng on 4 April 2007. She was 2.5 years old at the time and weighed 9 kilograms.
Salsa joined Forest School and later continued her rehabilitation on Kaja Pre-release Island on 3 August 2016. On Kaja, Salsa preferred to be left alone to explore and forage. She proved that despite her gentle nature, she was also capable of defending herself when required.
Two years later, still on Kaja Island, we discovered that Salsa was pregnant, but shortly after she disappeared for a week. She reappeared on 12 September 2018, but she was no longer alone. With her, clung her new baby girl, who we later named Salmah.
Salsa is now 15 years old and weighs 34.8 kilograms. Her baby, Salmah, is 12 months old and weighs 3 kilograms. With the skills she has gained during her rehabilitation, Salsa, together baby Salmah, is ready to live wild and free in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
7. SYDNEY
Sydney was rescued in Parenggean Village, East Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan, when he was 4 years old and weighed 11.5 kilograms. He displayed strong, wild behaviours at the time and kiss-squeaked at humans. With no mother, Sydney still needed to undergo the rehabilitation process before he could be released.
After passing all stages of Forest School at Nyaru Menteng, Sydney proceeded to the pre-release stage on Kaja Island, on 6 July 2017. He was easily agitated by human presence and tried to avoid any interaction. Sydney liked to explore, proved to be intuitive when presented with challenges, and could defend himself when disturbed by other orangutans.
Today, Sydney is 9 years old and weighs 28 kilograms. With all of his experience, Sydney is now ready to live in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park as a true, wild orangutan.
8. UJE
Prior to being rescued, Uje had been kept illegally as a pet by an oil palm plantation employee in Kotawaringin Timur Regency, Central Kalimantan. He arrived at Nyaru Menteng on 22 April 2007, when he was 18 months old and weighed 5 kilograms.
After passing the mandatory quarantine period, Uje joined Forest School and completed all stages. On 23 November 2017, he entered the pre-release stage of rehabilitation on Bangamat Island. On the island, Uje liked to be alone and became highly alert. He established himself as an adept explorer, who could also be aggressive toward specific people. During the dry season of 2018, adventurous Uje managed to cross the shallow river waters to a nearby island.
Uje is now 14 years old and weighs 33 kilograms. Soon, he will definitively prove that he is capable of living as a true, wild orangutan in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
9. ANOUK
Anouk was rescued in Kasongan City, Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan, and arrived at Nyaru Menteng on 18 July 2008. She was 12 months old at the time and weighed 6 kilograms.
After passing the mandatory quarantine period, Anouk joined Forest School and completed all of the stages. She was friendly toward her surrogate mothers and socialised well with other orangutans. On 9 March 2018, Anouk was transferred to Kaja Island, where she liked to explore and became very skilled at foraging for natural foods.
Anouk is now 13 years old and weighs 37 kilograms. Soon, she will be living as a true, wild orangutan in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
10. AOX
Aox was rescued in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, and arrived at Nyaru Menteng on 13 October 2009. He was only 2 years old at the time of his rescue, and, at 15 kilograms, was severely overweight. He had been kept illegally as a pet by local residents for 6 months.
After passing the quarantine period, Aox attended Forest School and, on 5 April 2017, he was moved to Salat Island to undergo the pre-release stage of rehabilitation. Aox was often aggressive toward new people, liked to explore, and preferred to be alone.
Aox is now 12 years old and weighs 35 kilograms. With the skills he has honed throughout the course of his rehabilitation, Aox is ready to live wild and free in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
11. ARIEL
Ariel was rescued from Tangar Village, East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan, in a collaborative effort by the Central Kalimantan BKSDA and BOSF Nyaru Menteng. He arrived at Nyaru Menteng on 15 September 2007, at the age of 2 years and weighing 8 kilograms.
After passing quarantine, Ariel attended Forest School and, on 28 May 2017, Ariel was moved to the Salat Island cluster to undergo the pre-release stage of rehabilitation. On the islands, Ariel grew to become an aggressive orangutan who loved to explore on his own, rarely mingling with other orangutans.
Now 15 years old and weighing 55 kilograms, Ariel is ready to enjoy true freedom in the wilds of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
12. BOLOT
Bolot was rescued from a resident of Sampit city, in East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan, on 15 October 2006. She had been kept as a pet for about 12 months. This orphaned, cross-eyed female was brought to Nyaru Menteng when she was just 2 years old, weighing 14 kilograms.
Bolot joined Forest School, and on 29 August 2017 was moved to Kaja Island for the pre-release stage of rehabilitation. She liked to explore the island and tended to be aggressive toward new people. Bolot socialised well with other orangutans and developed sound foraging skills.
Bolot is now 16 years old and weighs 38 kilograms. With the survival skills that she has mastered, Bolot will soon be enjoying true freedom in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
13. JEANIFER
Jeanifer was rescued – thanks to cooperation between the Central Kalimantan BKSDA and BOSF Nyaru Menteng – from a resident in Sangai village, East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan, on 14 June 2007. She was brought to Nyaru Menteng at the age of 2 years, weighing 7 kilograms.
After a mandatory quarantine period, Jeanifer began rehabilitation in Forest School and following her completion of the natural skills courses, she was transferred to Kaja Island on 13 April 2017. Jeanifer has a gentle nature, likes to explore, and gets along well with other orangutans.
Jeanifer is now 14 years old and weighs 37 kilograms. With the survival skills that she has developed, Jeanifer will soon be enjoying true freedom in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
14. LEGGI
Leggi was rescued from a palm-oil plantation in Kotawaringin Timur Regency, and arrived at BOS Nyaru Menteng on 2 February 2007. She came in a very poor condition; only 6 months old, but already orphaned, dehydrated, and underweight at just 2.2 kilograms.
Following a period of quarantine, Leggi attended Forest School and completed all stages. On May 28 2017, Leggi was moved to Salat Island to begin the pre-release stage of rehabilitation. On the island, Leggi tended to settle in certain areas for a while, dependent on food availability. She liked to be alone and was sometimes aggressive toward specific people.
Leggi is now 13 years old and weighs 33 kilograms. Soon she will live as a true, wild orangutan in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
15. LEXY
Lexy was rescued in the village of Dadahup, Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan, and arrived at Nyaru Menteng on 16 January 2007. She was 10 months old at the time, weighed 2.3 kilograms, and was in a very alarming condition – she was underweight, had dirty and sticky hair, and was severely dehydrated. She also had an infected wound on the right side of her back.
After receiving treatment in quarantine, Lexy recovered and soon joined Forest School. There, she did not rely on surrogate mothers, quickly distancing herself from humans. On 5 April 2017, Lexy began the pre-release stage of rehabilitation on the Salat Island cluster. Lexy established her independence on the islands as a tough explorer who liked to be alone.
Lexy is now 13 years old and weighs 33 kilograms. With all her independent skills and natural behaviours, Lexy will soon be enjoying her life as a true, wild orangutan in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
16. VALENT
Valent was kept as a pet for 9 months by an oil palm plantation employee in Kotawaringin Timur District, Central Kalimantan, before being rescued on 8 January 2006. He arrived at Nyaru Menteng at the age of 2 years, weighing 7.5 kilograms.
Following quarantine, Valent joined Forest School. He later began the pre-release stage of rehabilitation on Bangamat Island on 24 August 2017. Valent is very wary of humans and other orangutans. He tends to be aloof and likes to explore, but is not an aggressive individual.
Now at the age of 16 years and weighing 40 kilograms, Valent will soon be living wild and free in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
17. PANDU (Translocation)
On 21 September 2019, Pandu was rescued from an oil palm plantation in Pulang Pisau Regency, Central Kalimantan. He was 20 years old at the time and exhibited strong, wild behaviours. He also firmly disliked humans. Due to his poor health upon rescue, Pandu required treatment at our rehabilitation centre.
After two months of treatment at Nyaru Menteng, Pandu is now fully recovered. This 65-kilogram adult male with cheek-pads is now ready to return to the wild, and will soon be living in the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.