Meet Baby Orangutan Jenny!
Date Posted: February 6, 2025
Text by: Communications Team at Samboja Lestari, East Kalimantan
BABY ORANGUTAN FROM PENDAMARAN VILLAGE, NOW SAFE AT SAMBOJA
This past January, the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation welcomed a new baby orangutan at the Samboja Lestari Rehabilitation Centre. This female orangutan, named Jenny, was rescued after a local resident from Pendamaran Village, Kembang Janggut District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, reported to the East Kalimantan BKSDA SKW II office that he had been keeping the baby orangutan as a pet for five months.
Rescuing a Baby Orangutan from Pendamaran Village
Jenny’s story began when a local resident found her alone in an oil palm plantation. Mistaking her for a macaque, he took the baby home. After a neighbours informed him that orangutans are protected species and cannot be kept as pets, the man wanted to report it but didn’t know where to go or whom to contact.
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The Wildlife Rescue Team from BKSDA SKW II Tenggarong quickly responded to the report and went to retrieve the baby orangutan. She was first taken to Samarinda before being transported to Samboja Lestari on Friday, January 3, 2025. The rescue team arrived at the rehabilitation centre at 8:30 a.m., with Jenny safely secured in a transport cage.
Jenny’s Condition After Five Months in Captivity
During her time in captivity, Jenny was given milk by the resident. However, due to financial limitations, the milk was eventually replaced with tea. As a result, Jenny became dependent on tea and would show signs of aggression if she wasn’t given her usual drink.
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Besides tea, Jenny was also fed bananas, rice, and bread. Despite her captivity, she never showed aggressive behaviour toward humans. She even slept with the family and occasionally played outside, climbing trees, and nibbling on young leaves.
Health Check at the Orangutan Clinic
Upon arrival at Samboja Lestari, Jenny was immediately taken to the orangutan clinic for a thorough health check. As soon as she was let out of the transport cage, Jenny sought comfort by asking to be held and hugged our surrogate mother tightly.
The medical team performed a complete physical examination, including weighing, collecting blood samples, and checking her teeth. Based on her teeth, Jenny was estimated to be between 1 and 2 years old, as her M1 molars had already erupted. Overall, Jenny was in good health.
Jenny’s First Days in Nursery Babies
After the health check, Jenny was taken to the Nursery Babies section for a bath. Her body was a bit dirty, and some rice was stuck in her hair. After cleaning her up, our surrogate mother offered her bananas and cucumbers, but Jenny, unfamiliar with these foods, spat them out. She also refused the milk offered to her.
When she was taken to the indoor playground, Jenny appeared scared and began to cry. She clung to our surrogate mother, seeking the comfort and security of being held in unfamiliar surroundings.
Hope for Jenny’s Future at Samboja Lestari
Jenny is now part of a new family at Samboja Lestari, joining other baby orangutans like Galaksi and Otan. It may take some time for her to adjust to her new environment, but with the love and care from our surrogate mother and the dedicated efforts of the animal welfare and medical teams, we optimist Jenny will grow stronger and healthier each day.
“We look forward to the day when she will embark on her journey back to the wild!”