Three Rehabilitated Orangutans Released in East Kutai
- 26 Jun 2026 20:20 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- The Ministry of Forestry has released three rehabilitated Bornean orangutans, named Bagus, Eboni, and Ruby, into the Gunung Batu Mesangat Protected Forest in East Kutai, East Kalimantan, on 23 June 2026.
- The latest release brings the total number of rehabilitated orangutans returned to the protected forest to 18 over the past four years.
RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Eighteen rehabilitated Bornean orangutans have been successfully returned to their natural habitat in the Gunung Batu Mesangat Protected Forest, East Kutai Regency, East Kalimantan, over the past four years. This sustained effort was reinforced when the Ministry of Forestry released three more Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) named Bagus, Eboni, and Ruby on Tuesday, 23 June 2026.
According to a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Thursday, June 26, 2026, the East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) partnered with local forestry and conservation units for the initiative. Together with the Kelinjau Production Forest Management Unit (KPHP) and the Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP), they successfully conducted the wildlife release on June 23, 2026.
“Rehabilitation is a long process that takes two to six years. The three were observed to be able to adapt and live independently on the pre-release island, so they were deemed fit to return to the forest,” said Head of BKSDA East Kalimantan, M. Ari Wibawanto, as quoted by Antara.
He explained that the three orangutans share a similar background, as each had been kept as pets by local residents before being rescued. Specifically, Bagus was rescued in Merabu Village, Berau in September 2020, Eboni was evacuated in late April 2022 in Long Beliu Village, Berau, and Ruby evacuated in early April 2024 in Persiapan Sekurau Atas Village, East Kutai.
Before release, the orangutans underwent rehabilitation at the Borneo Orangutan Rescue Alliance (BORA). Orangutans kept long-term by humans often lose wild instincts such as climbing, foraging and nest building.
At the rehabilitation center they completed stages including health checks, “forest school” to practice basic survival skills, and a four-month adaptation period on a pre-release island.
COP’s monitoring team will track the movements of Bagus, Eboni and Ruby for the next three months to ensure their safety and successful adaptation to their new home. ***
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