ACT FOR ORANGUTANS: THEIR FOREST, OUR FUTURE. “COMMEMORATING WORLD ORANGUTAN DAY 2026”

To commemorate World Orangutan Day, observed annually on 19 August, the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation, together with the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) of Central and East Kalimantan, Sebangau National Park, Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park (TNBBBR), and various national and international conservation partners, is calling on the public to take meaningful action for orangutans and Indonesia’s forests through the theme “ACT FOR ORANGUTANS: Their Forest, Our Future.”

The theme serves as a reminder that the future of orangutans cannot be separated from the future of Indonesia’s forests. Forests are not only home to orangutans, but also sustain life by providing clean water, storing carbon, regulating the climate, and protecting biodiversity for future generations. As natural seed dispersers, orangutans also play an important role in forest regeneration. When forests remain protected, orangutans can continue to fulfil their ecological role while people continue to benefit from the vital functions of healthy forests.

Amid the many challenges that continue to threaten orangutans and their habitat, including habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, forest fires, and human-wildlife conflict, orangutan conservation requires more than awareness alone. It requires meaningful and consistent action from all sectors of society, including government, conservation organisations, academics, the private sector, local communities, and individuals.

World Orangutan Day 2026 is an opportunity to strengthen collaboration while encouraging everyone to take action within their own capacity. Protecting forests, refraining from buying or keeping protected wildlife, supporting responsible conservation efforts, and reporting wildlife trafficking are among the ways people can help protect orangutans and their habitat.

HEAD OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION AGENCY (BKSDA) OF CENTRAL KALIMANTAN, ANDI MUHAMMAD KADHAFI, S.HUT., M.SI., said, “World Orangutan Day reminds us that the future of orangutans is largely determined by the actions we take today. Rescue and rehabilitation efforts, human-orangutan conflict mitigation, and law enforcement against wildlife trafficking are all part of the responsibility we continue to carry out together with various partners. However, conservation cannot succeed without public support. Every effort to protect forests, stop wildlife trafficking, and respect orangutans in their natural habitat is a meaningful contribution to the future of Indonesia’s biodiversity.”

HEAD OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION AGENCY (BKSDA) OF EAST KALIMANTAN, M. ARI WIBAWANTO, S.HUT., M.SC., added, “Orangutans can only survive if the forests they depend on remain protected. Therefore, safeguarding conservation areas, restoring habitat, and sustainably managing landscapes are integral parts of orangutan conservation. The theme ‘Their Forest, Our Future’ reminds us that when we protect forests as orangutans’ homes, we are also safeguarding the ecological functions that support human life, both today and in the future.”

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOS FOUNDATION, DR. IR. JAMARTIN SIHITE, M.SC., emphasised, “The theme ‘ACT FOR ORANGUTANS: Their Forest, Our Future’ is more than a slogan. It is a call to action, because the future of orangutans depends on the decisions we make today. Every tree that remains standing, every forest we protect, and every orangutan that returns to live freely in the wild is the result of meaningful action, science, dedication, and collaboration. At the BOS Foundation, we see first-hand that saving a single orangutan is not the work of a day or a year. It takes years to rehabilitate them from the impacts of conflict and prepare them to return to the wild. But release is not the end. We must ensure that forests remain, remain healthy, and continue to provide a home for them.

Because when we protect forests for orangutans, we are ultimately protecting our own future. It is time not only to care, but to act.”

Through World Orangutan Day 2026, the BOS Foundation calls on everyone to take meaningful action according to their respective roles. Every decision that supports forest conservation and wildlife protection can contribute to a larger effort to ensure that orangutans continue to have a home in the wild. Because when we protect forests for orangutans, we are also protecting our shared future.

The BOS Foundation extends its deepest appreciation to all our partners, including BOS Australia, BOS Germany, BOS New Zealand, BOS Switzerland, BOS UK, BOS USA, BOS France, BOS Japan, and Save the Orangutan, as well as our supporters around the world, including Orangutan Outreach. The support of our partners and individual donors from around the world has made a significant contribution to ensuring that orangutan rescue, rehabilitation, release, and habitat protection efforts in Indonesia can continue.

*Photos and videos from the activities can be downloaded via the following Google Drive link [here]