The 12 orangutans mentioned in our previous blog have been successfully released back into the wild! The releases were followed out in 2 separate locations. One release was located in Central Kalimantan and the other was in East Kalimantan. In the first release, 8 orangutans were moved from the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary to the release location in the Bukit Batikap Protection Forest. The second release involved moving 4 orangutans from the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Sanctuary to the release location in the Kehje Sewen Ecosystem Restoration Concession Forest.
It was decided to fly the orangutans there by helicopter to maximise efficiency and minimise the stress for the orangutans. The orangutan cages were first transported from the sanctuaries to the helicopters by car. They were then loaded into a sling load beneath the helicopter and flown to the chosen location drop points. Following the landing, the orangutans made the final stage of the journey by boat to their release points.
Check out the release video below:
Without the incredible work from the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF), the success of these releases would not have been possible.
Feeling inspired to help with orangutan rehabilitation efforts? Join the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Sanctuary or the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary to make a difference to the lives of orangutans in Borneo!
