The Conservation World Welcomes the Birth of Sumatran Orangutan Baby

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Good news comes from the Jantho Orangutan Reintroduction Center in the Jantho Nature Reserve, Aceh Besar Regency. The Post Release Monitoring team of the Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari-Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program (YEL-SOCP) confirmed the birth of a Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) baby from a mother named Bulan, an orangutan rehabilitated and living freely in the wild since 2018.

The birth was observed on May 22, 2026, when the monitoring team found Bulan moving actively in the forest canopy while carrying her baby. The male baby, estimated to be around one month old, appeared healthy and remained in its mother's embrace, who displayed very protective behavior.

The Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, named the baby orangutan "Badar." The name Badar, which means full moon, is hoped to become a symbol of new hope for the sustainability of the Sumatran orangutan population in the wild.

"This birth is proof that thru consistent habitat protection, we are able to restore the population of endangered endemic wildlife." "May Badar grow healthy in the wild and bring a glimmer of new hope for the sustainability of our invaluable forest ecosystem," Raja Juli Antoni stated in a written statement on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

Bulan is an orangutan who was rescued from wildlife trafficking in Kutacane, Southeast Aceh Regency, in 2014 when she was around two years old. After undergoing rehabilitation for four years at the YEL-SOCP Sibolangit Orangutan Quarantine and Rehabilitation Center, Bulan was released into the Jantho Orangutan Reintroduction Center area in 2018.

The Head of the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Ujang Wisnu Barata, said that Bulan's journey from being a victim of wildlife trafficking to becoming a mother in the wild demonstrates the success of the orangutan rehabilitation and release program.

"This birth proves how orangutans who were once victims of wildlife trafficking can get a second chance to live and breed in the wild. Success like this can only continue if their habitat remains protected," he said.

Reproductive success in the wild is an important indicator that rehabilitated orangutans are able to adapt, survive, and breed in their natural habitat. This event also serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving orangutan natural habitats and strengthening wildlife protection so that conservation efforts can continue.