Govt Releases Five Orangutans Into Their Natural Habitat in West Kalimantan

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Forestry has once again released five rehabilitated orangutans into their natural habitat in the Sub-DAS Mendalam area, Betung Kerihun National Park, on June 30, 2026. The release was the result of collaboration between the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Center, the Betung Kerihun and Danau Sentarum National Park Management, and the Sintang Orangutan Rescue Foundation as an effort to preserve protected wildlife.

Five orangutans that were released into the wild consist of one male and four females, namely Benazir (14 years old), Jamilah (25 years old) with her child Ulin (1 year old), and Sinta (13 years old) with her child Sabine (2 years old). All of them have been declared ready to return to the wild after undergoing rehabilitation at the Jerora Forest School, health checks, and a one-month pre-release quarantine.

This release is the 18th stage since the program began in 2017. By the end of 2025, a total of 39 orangutan individuals, consisting of 37 rehabilitated and two translocated, have been released in the Betung Kerihun National Park area as part of efforts to strengthen the Bornean orangutan population in its natural habitat.

The Head of the Betung Kerihun and Danau Sentarum National Park, Titik Wurdiningsih, hopes that the release will help maintain the sustainability of the orangutan population in their natural habitat.

"With the release of five orangutan individuals and future orangutan releases in TN Betung Kerihun, the preservation of orangutan existence is maintained so that our grandchildren can still see them in the wild in the future," Titik said in a written statement, Thursday, July 2, 2026.

Meanwhile, the Head of the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Center, Murlan Dameria Pane, stated that the success of the 18th release phase is the result of the consistency and dedication of various parties in the wildlife rehabilitation process.

"The return of these five orangutan individuals to their natural habitat in TN Betung Kerihun is not just the end of their rehabilitation period, but a new beginning for strengthening the population of Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) in the wild," she explained.

According to him, the synergy of various parties needs to be continuously strengthened, not only in rewilding but also thru habitat protection and education for the community. Thus, threats to protected wildlife can be mitigated, while also achieving harmony between humans and the sustainable preservation of nature in West Kalimantan.