Video: Jumbo Goes Wild!
Date Posted: June 11, 2025
Text by BOSF Communications Team, Adapted by Orangutan Outreach
Beloved Jumbo, from the Orangutan Outreach Adoption Program, has been released to freedom in the forest of Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park! Let’s take a look at Jumbo’s rehabilitation journey - from his arrival at Nyaru Menteng in 2013 to his reintroduction to his wild home in 2025.
Jumbo’s Rescue
In 2013, just two days after the rescue of another orangutan named Cinta, a car pulled up at the BOS Foundation Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre carrying a young male orangutan from Dusun Manggana village. The villagers had contacted the BOS Foundation after caring for the infant for about a month. According to one resident, he had discovered the orangutan while working in his small oil palm plantation. When the orangutan arrived at Nyaru Menteng, veterinarian Dr. Maryos Tandang conducted an initial health check. The infant male, less than one year old, had no physical injuries but was clearly traumatized. That very day, former President of Indonesia Megawati Soekarno Putri happened to be visiting and graciously named the young orangutan Jumbo.
Nursery and Forest School
Jumbo was placed in quarantine alongside baby Cinta. In the nursery, he began learning the vital skills needed to survive in the wild. His journey toward independence had officially begun. By 2014, Jumbo had advanced to forest school, where he learned to climb, forage, and live among other orangutans. Jumbo was featured in the documentary series, Orangutan Jungle School, where he quickly became a fan favorite. The world was able to watch little Jumbo grow and develop. Over the years, he became a sociable individual who displayed minimal interest in humans - a key trait for future release candidates.
Pre-Release on Salat Island
On April 7, 2021, Jumbo progressed to the next stage of rehabilitation at Salat Island, a pre-release site. There he was observed foraging naturally and spending his time high in the canopy, socializing with other orangutans. He was healthy, active, and alert, consistently demonstrating the survival behaviors needed in the wild. Later that year, Jumbo was transferred to Kaja Island. Over time, he became increasingly wild and elusive, eventually avoiding contact with the monitoring team. This behavior is typical of orangutans on pre-release islands, where they often explore multiple islets. Months later, Jumbo reappeared at a feeding platform, but his condition had deteriorated. Malnourished, he was transferred to the Nyaru Menteng Clinic in September 2022 for recovery. There, he received nutritional supplements and enrichment food, slowly regaining his strength.
Final Preparations
In July 2023, Jumbo returned to Kaja Island for the final leg of his pre-release journey. Now 12 years old, he had mastered all the essential skills required to survive independently in the wild. The BOSF team determined he was ready for his release back to the wild forest! Jumbo then spent time in a quarantine enclosure at Nyaru Menteng waiting for the big release day. He had no idea the best was yet to come!
Jumbo’s Release
May 21, 2025 began the final chapter of Jumbo’s journey. As part of the 45th release from the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre, Jumbo was lovingly placed in a transport crate and the crate was loaded onto the BOS Foundation vehicle. Joining Jumbo were orangutans Rongda (F), Radmala (F), Hanau (F), and Pirang (M). After many hours of road travel, the orangutans completed their journey to Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park by boat. Each orangutan’s crate was then carried by members of the BOSF team to the release site. One by one, the transport crates were opened.
As soon as Jumbo’s crate door opened, he showed great enthusiasm. Eagerly, he stepped out and began exploring the surrounding area. Interestingly, instead of climbing a tree right away, Jumbo chose to spend more time exploring the forest floor. According to the BOSF veterinarian, this was likely part of his adaptation process—getting to know his new environment more closely.
His curiosity about his surroundings was clear. At one point, he approached the Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team who were observing from a distance. Realizing the PRM team posed no threat, Jumbo eventually climbed a tree and began munching on young leaves. He looked calm and at ease among the branches, occasionally glancing at the team who continued to record his every move.
Resting in His New Forest Home
As night began to fall, Jumbo displayed another important survival skill—nest building. He began gathering leaves to construct a place to rest. Uniquely, he chose to build his nest on a sturdy lower branch, rather than in the canopy like most wild orangutans. Once finished, he relaxed in his nest, quietly observing the forest as it was slowly enveloped by darkness.
As the sun set behind the trees, Jumbo grew sleepy. Before long, he fell sound asleep in his simple nest—right in the heart of the lush tropical forest that now serves as his new home. This marks a brand new beginning for Jumbo, a long-awaited moment of freedom since the day he first arrived at the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre.
A New Beginning for Jumbo
Jumbo will be carefully observed for many months by the BOS Foundation PRM team. The PRM team will watch for key behaviors to assure that Jumbo is adjusting to his forest home. We are certain he will thrive in this new environment and soon contribute to the growing population of wild orangutans! We are so proud of Jumbo and we know you are too! Thank you to everyone who has supported Jumbo for the past 12 years. His journey back to freedom would not have been possible without you!