Five rehabilitated orangutans return to Kalimantan rainforest

Every orangutan returning to the forest carries a long story of struggle.

Palangka Raya (ANTARA) - Five rehabilitated orangutans have been released into the Kalimantan rainforest at Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park, marking a collaborative conservation effort to restore ecosystem balance and preserve Indonesia’s biodiversity.

The group, consisting of three females and two males, successfully completed a lengthy rehabilitation process at the Nyaru Menteng center.

Among them is Himba, a 15-year-old male who was rescued with severe burns from a forest fire as an infant, and Lykke, a 23-year-old female who spent nearly 22 years learning to survive independently after being rescued with her mother.

"Every orangutan returning to the forest carries a long story of struggle. Himba, Lykke, Farida, Nett, and Semeru have gone through years of rehabilitation to relearn how to live as wild orangutans," said Jamartin Sihite, CEO of the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation, on Friday.

He emphasized that the release is not merely the conclusion of their rehabilitation, but "the beginning of their new life in the wild."

This release marks the 47th joint operation between the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the BOS Foundation.

Officials noted that each release is part of a broader mission to sustain Indonesia's rich biodiversity.

Mochamad Satori, head of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park, stated that the protected area remains a vital stronghold for the species.

"Their presence in nature plays an important role in maintaining the balance of the tropical rainforest, so the protection of conservation areas must continue to be strengthened through multi-stakeholder cooperation and community support," Satori said.

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Translator: Rendhik Andika, Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono

Editor: M Razi Rahman

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