April 23, 2025, marked a historic moment in Indonesia’s orangutan conservation efforts. The Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, the East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), and the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation, supported by Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP), successfully released five orangutans and reintroduced one rehabilitated orangutan from the Samboja Lestari Rehabilitation Centre into the Kehje Sewen Forest, the working area of PT Restorasi Habitat Orangutan Indonesia (PT RHOI) in East Kutai Regency, East Kalimantan.

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This effort was not merely a relocation but a journey full of struggles, hopes, and dedication, aimed at ensuring the survival of this iconic species in its natural habitat.

From Samboja Lestari Back to the Wild

The release process began with medical preparations. The six orangutans were sedated by our medical team before being carefully transferred one by one into transport cages by our experienced technicians. Every preparation was conducted meticulously, considering the long and challenging journey ahead. This was essential to safeguard the welfare of the orangutans in accordance with animal welfare protocols, while also ensuring the safety of the entire release team.

The Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Raja Juli Antoni, officially flagged off the release team on the afternoon of April 22, 2025. The journey with the six orangutans then commenced. Throughout the journey, the team made routine stops every two hours to check on the orangutans, providing fresh fruits, drinking water, and ensuring their continued comfort.

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The road trip took approximately 12 hours before the team arrived at Muara Wahau around 2:25 AM WITA. After a short rest and a briefing session, the journey continued to the river dock, where the team crossed using a kelotok (motorized boat) to the designated release points within the Kehje Sewen Forest. Before crossing, each transport cage was equipped with flotation devices to guarantee the orangutans’ safety during the river crossing. Fortunately, the crossing took only about five minutes.

The Release Moment: Celebrating Freedom

Deep in the forest, the long-awaited moment arrived. The team began opening the transport cages one by one. Mori was the first orangutan to be released. Mori eagerly stepped out, embracing her newfound freedom, followed by Bugis, who appeared mesmerized by his surroundings as he exited his cage. Shortly afterward, Mori and Bugis were observed copulating, indicating a positive adaptation to their new environment.

Mori had previously been released into the Kehje Sewen Forest in 2019. However, due to a decreasing in her health caused by melioidosis, she had to return to the rehabilitation centre for medical treatment. Now fully recovered, Mori was ready to return to her true home in the wild.

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Next to be released was Mikhayla, with her cage opened personally by the Minister of Forestry. Her story of resilience is remarkable, having been rescued from a mining area in a malnourished state. After months of recovery at the Samboja Lestari Rehabilitation Centre, she was ready to return to a safer and more suitable environment. As soon as her transport cage was opened, Mikhayla leapt out energetically and swiftly climbed the nearest tree.

At the next release point, Siti and Uli were freed. Siti dashed out of her cage enthusiastically, while Uli took a calmer approach, cautiously yet confidently exploring his new surroundings. The last cage to be opened belonged to Sie-Sie, a cheek-padded male orangutan. Upon release, Sie-Sie displayed some aggression, a sign of the stress he had experienced during the journey. Fortunately, our technicians were able to avoid any confrontation, ensuring a safe release.

Each orangutan exhibited unique responses as their cages were opened, a testament to the success of the long rehabilitation process they had undergone.

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Evaluation: Reflection Amid the Forest

That evening, the entire release team gathered at Camp Nles Mamse to conduct a thorough evaluation. Every stage of the activity, from departure to release, was reviewed and analyzed, including challenges encountered and recommendations for future releases.

This evaluation is a crucial part of our commitment to ensuring that every conservation effort is carried out to the highest standards, thereby increasing the chances of survival for the released orangutans in the wild.

This is where the critical role of our Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team comes in—ensuring that the released orangutans adapt well to their new environment for at least a month before they eventually disperse deeper into the forest.

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This release operation not only ran smoothly but also served as a powerful reminder that hard work, collaboration, and dedication are key to saving this vital species. The spirit forged during this release will continue to fuel our long-term mission to protect orangutans and their natural habitat.

Text by: Communication Team, BOS Foundation Headquarters, Bogor, West Java