BOS Update - The Final Stage of Rehabilitation

Today we heard from BOS UK, giving us an update on the orangutans who are living on the Islands. We thought you'd like to hear how they are getting on:

Four orangutans from Nyaru Menteng - Borneo Orangutan Survival’s rescue and rehabilitation centre - have just started the final phase of their rehabilitation - relocation to a nearby island, Hampapak Matei. They’re only one step away now from release back into the wild, but it’ll be another 18 months to 2 years before they’re able to enjoy complete freedom. Life on Hampapak Matei will, however, be quite an experience for these for orangutans. They’ll be living in a state of near-freedom, in their natural habitat, with the ability to explore their new terrain at will, forage for food if they wish, and generally learn to acclimatise to life outside the confines of Nyaru Menteng and Forest School, where they’ve led a sheltered existence for something approaching 8 years.

Bobo, Marwan, Tim and Dani were victims of the illegal pet trade on Java, where they had been kept as pets in an urban environment. They were confiscated by government authorities between 7 and 8 years ago, and sent to Nyaru Menteng to be cared for and nurtured by Lone Droscher-Neilsen and her staff. There they were given the chance to learn how to be wild again, climbing trees and playing with the other orangutans in Forest School. One can only imagine what joy they must have felt at being able to move freely again, and to breathe the clean forest air. During their years at Nyaru Menteng, Bobo, Marwan, Tim and Dani developed all the skills which they’ll need to survive in the rainforest - learning how to build a nest, which fruits and leaves are edible, how to collect insects and how to avoid danger.

Progressing from one class to the next, they became more and more independent of their human charges, and developed the social skills necessary to interact with other orangutans. Now, on Hampapak Matei, the four orangutans will have an opportunity to put into practice what they’ve learned at Nyaru Menteng. They’ll be out in the forest night and day, and meet the other orangutans who are sharing the 20 ha island with them. They’ll have as little contact with humans as possible, although food will be provided daily, and they’ll be monitored to make sure that they come to no harm and that they’re adjusting to their new lifestyle.

Hampapak Matei is one of five orangutan islands belonging to Nyaru Menteng which, in total, cover an area of 245 ha. There are 87 orangutans living on these islands, in preparation for their final release. Nyaru Menteng is presently working on acquiring other islands to be able to accommodate not only those orangutans who are ready for pre-release, but those who can’t be released into the wild, due to either disease or disability.

If you would like to help, please visit BOS UK: http://www.savetheorangutan.co.uk/
or make a donation:
BOS continually needs to find funding to cover the costs of leasing these islands, as well as surveying future sites for the safe release of the wild rescued orangutans.