We have an update on the 5 Orangutans which were released back into the rainforest in May this year by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation!
You may remember the news that these five great apes completed their rehabilitation and were released into the wild on the 28th May. Thanks to the efforts of the BOS Foundation Post Release Monitoring Team, we can happily tell you that all five orangutans are doing well in their new, natural homes.
Let’s take a closer look at what the orangutans have been getting up to since their release:
Gadis Finds New Friends In Arief and Long!
Gadis enjoying some playtime with Long!
Gadis was very quick out of the blocks as soon as she was released and managed to get out of range of the Post Release Monitoring team. Over the last couple of weeks however, the team has managed to catch up with her, and the team from BOS Foundation discovered her interacting with two orangutans that had previously been released from Samboja Lestari! Gadis spent a lot of time interacting with Arief and his adopted mother Long, and the trio were found foraging for fruits in the trees.
Angely and Kenji prefer to spend their time alone
Angely on the search for food
Whilst Gadis may be a sociable ape, Angely and Kenji prefer to explore the forest on their own. Both orangutans have shown a dislike towards other orangutans they have come into contact with, and they have gone out of their way to avoid them. They should have no problem flourishing out in the rainforest though, as both have proven to be skillful foragers, enjoying all of the foods the rainforest has to offer including fruits, termites, and bamboo!
Kenji finding shelter from the rain under some leaves
Hope Hasn’t Hesitated To Make A Friend!
Hope interacting with Ajeng
Hopes release got off to a slow start as he was observed by the BOS Foundation team spending the majority of his time resting in a nest, only moving to find food.
However, after a chance meeting with Ajeng, an orangutan previously rehabilitated and released from Samboja, the two became inseparable after some early trepidation they now spend their days eating, playing, and exploring together!
Raymond Is An Eater Not A Fighter
Raymond tucking in to some delicious fern leaves
Raymond began his release by roaming and foraging in his new territory and things were going well until he ran into a big male orangutan called Hanung. Due to his larger size and physicality, Hanung won the fight that ensued after this collision. Fortunately, Raymond was not hurt beyond a bruised ego, and he fled to an area 500 meters from Hanungs territory.
It was here that Raymond found the love of his life, jabon fruits and fern leaves! The Post Release Monitoring Team have observed Raymond enjoying both of these food sources in abundance so it seems that Raymond is well and truly finding his feet in the forest!
We are as delighted as you are to hear that all of the orangutans are progressing well, and we would like to take this chance to congratulate the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation team on all of the hard work they have put in to ensure the apes safe transition into the jungle.
