This post comes from our Indonesian vet, Dr Fikri.
On 18th April staff from the Indonesian Government’s Agency for the Conservation of Natural Resources (BKSDA SKW II) Pangkalan Bun office informed us that an infant orangutan (± 1 year) was at their Sampit office.
Dr Fikri and the rescue team drove the 5 hours to Sampit, along the dusty and pothole-ridden road. After arriving at the Sampit office the team were shown the orangutan which was being kept in a holding cage. When approached, the orangutan was anxious and frightened and frequently “kiss squeaked” (the sound orangutans make when they are distressed).
Photo 1. Orangutan in The Office BKSDA Sampit Area
Photo 2. Cage being lifted into Orangutan Foundation pick-up truck for the long jorney back to Pangkalan Bun.
The BKSDA staff said the orangutan was female and came from the community. It was found in a public-owned rubber plantation near Patai village of Cempaga Hulu District, East Kotawaringin. Bordering the rubber plantation was an oil palm plantation, PT. Tunas Agro Subur Kencana III.
Orangutan at the Office of BKSDA Pangkalan Bun
Dr Fikri examined the orangutan once back at the BKSDA office in Pangkalan Bun. After observing the orangutan we estimated her to be ± 3-5 years old, she was healthy and definitely still very wild!
Examination by Dr Fikri finds her to be in good health.
On 23 April, the orangutan was taken from the BKSDA office to Camp Siswoyo in the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve.
Journey to the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve. First by truck and then by boat (below).
Arriving at Camp Siswoyo in the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve
Transfer to holding cage
The orangutan will be observed and gradually released into the forest. We hope because she is still very wild at heart that she will have no problems coping by herself in the wild. We hope to bring you more news soon.
Please support our Habitat Protection appeal to keep these orangutans safe.
She looks so small. Is that why the estimated age has such a wide range? Is there a possibility that she may stay at the center for awhile considering that she should still be being cared for by her mom?
Hi jacquie, thanks for your comment. It is very difficult to be precise about orangutan’s ages as they all vary in size and development. She is being kept at Camp Siswoyo where there is only the holding cage in the forest and a simple staff accommodation building. She will be allowed out into the forest each day to explore, climb and hopefully find food and make nests. Once the vet and staff are confident she can find enough food and make a nest to sleep in then she will be totally released. Because she already has skills we don’t want her to lose them by going into a much bigger care centre, where they will be less opportunity to go into the forest each day. We hope her wild spirit and the skills she has already gain from her mother will be sufficient so that she can survive in the wild – we will do our best to ensure this can happen. Many thanks, Cathy @ Orangutan Foundation