In celebration of National Flora and Fauna Love Day (Hari Cinta Puspa dan Satwa Nasional / HCPSN), the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA Central Kalimantan), the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park Authority (TNBBBR), and the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation, together with national and international partners, have released seven orangutans back to their natural habitat within the Tumbang Hiran Resort area, Management Section II Kasongan, TNBBBR.
These seven orangutans, comprising four males and three females, are the latest graduates from the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, where they underwent years of intensive rehabilitation and were declared ready to live independently in the wild. This release not only reinforces the ongoing commitment to orangutan and habitat conservation but also embodies the true spirit of National Flora and Fauna Love Day, fostering affection, awareness, and responsibility toward Indonesia’s rich biodiversity.
Each orangutan released carries a unique story of survival and resilience. Among them is Kapuan, a 26-year-old female who was repatriated from Thailand and has spent 19 years in rehabilitation at Nyaru Menteng. Kapuan is known for her adaptability and strength, symbolizing the long and challenging journey to restore orangutans to their rightful home in the forests of Kalimantan. Another inspiring story comes from Berunay, a 23-year-old female who spent over two decades in rehabilitation. She is an adept climber who spends most of her time high in the canopy, skillfully foraging for natural food sources. Meanwhile, Momot, a 12-year-old male, displays exceptional independence and advanced foraging and food-processing skills. Together with the other four individuals, they embark on a new chapter of freedom, carrying hope for the future of orangutans and Indonesia’s tropical forests.
HEAD OF THE CENTRAL KALIMANTAN NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION AGENCY (BKSDA), ANDI MUHAMMAD KADHAFI, S.HUT., M.SI., stated, “National Flora and Fauna Love Day reminds us that love for nature should not only be spoken, it must be reflected through real actions. Every orangutan release is a shared effort to restore ecosystem balance and ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy Indonesia’s rich biodiversity.
This release marks the 46th orangutan reintroduction carried out together with the BOS Foundation in Central Kalimantan. We appreciate the ongoing cooperation in supporting orangutan and habitat conservation. Contributions from various parties, including the BOS Foundation, play an important role in ensuring that activities like this can run well. Love for wildlife should be part of our national culture, and through collaboration, we can protect nature sustainably.”
HEAD OF THE BUKIT BAKA BUKIT RAYA NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY (TNBBBR), PERSADA AGUSSETIA SITEPU, S.HUT., M.SI., added, “Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park is a great home for countless forms of life, including orangutans. We are committed to keeping this home intact so that wildlife can thrive naturally. The release of seven orangutans today is part of a larger ecological recovery process, as every individual returned to the forest plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance.
Collaboration between institutions and local communities is essential to ensure that this forest remains safe for all of its inhabitants, and we hope this cooperation will continue for the sake of our wildlife and the forests that sustain them.”
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOS FOUNDATION, DR. IR. JAMARTIN SIHITE, MSC., also shared, “Every orangutan release carries a moving story of hope. One such story is that of Kapuan, an orangutan repatriated from Thailand who finally returned to the wild after nearly 19 years in rehabilitation. She is the 14th repatriated orangutan successfully returned to her natural habitat. The repatriation process is far from easy, it requires time, strong commitment, cross-border cooperation, and significant resources. Not all individuals are as fortunate as Kapuan. Her success is a symbol of resilience, hope, and an unbreakable will to live.
This achievement could only be realized through collaboration among all parties, government agencies, conservation partners, the private sector, and the broader public. The timing of Kapuan’s release, which coincides with National Flora and Fauna Love Day and Heroes’ Day, reminds us that conservation is a modern form of heroism. The success of orangutan conservation depends on our ability to work together. Kapuan stands as living proof that every life deserves a second chance, and that love, dedication, and cooperation can restore harmony between humans and nature.”
The BOS Foundation expresses its deepest appreciation to all partners, including BOS Australia, BOS Germany, BOS New Zealand, BOS Switzerland, BOS UK, BOS USA, BOS France, BOS Japan, Save the Orangutan, and global supporters such as Orangutan Outreach, whose generous contributions have sustained orangutan conservation efforts in Indonesia. We also extend our gratitude to business supporters such as Aalborg Zoo, AZA Osafe, Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF), and individual donors from around the world whose generosity makes ongoing orangutan protection and habitat conservation possible.
Photo and video documentation of this activity can be downloaded from the following link: [Google Drive – Release #46 Documentation]
*Latest photo and video documentation from this activity will be available one day after this press release is issued via the following Google Drive folder: “Latest Documentation”.
Editors Note :
ABOUT BOS FOUNDATION
Established in 1991, the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation is a non-profit Indonesian organization dedicated to the conservation of Bornean orangutans and their habitat. Working in collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry, local communities, and international partner organizations, BOS carries out habitat conservation, community development, environmental education programs, and currently cares for over 350 orangutans in two rehabilitation centers. This work is supported by 400 highly dedicated staff and experts in primatology, biodiversity, ecology, forest rehabilitation, agroforestry, community empowerment, education, and orangutan health. For more information, please visit: www.orangutan.or.id.
ABOUT ORANGUTAN RELEASES
Since 2012, the BOS Foundation has released 544 orangutans into three release sites, two in Central Kalimantan (Bukit Batikap Protected Forest and Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park) and one in East Kalimantan (Kehje Sewen Forest).
This release marks the 46th release event in Central Kalimantan, bringing the total number of orangutans reintroduced into Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park to 214 individuals.
MORE INFORMATION:
Head of Public Relations and International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Environment and Forestry:
Krisdianto, S.Hut., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Head of Central Kalimantan BKSDA:
Andi Muhammad Kadhafi, S.Hut., M.Si. [+62 821 5856 4609]
Head of Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park:
Persada Agussetia Sitepu, S.Hut., M.Si. [+62 822 3866 7543]
Program Manager, PROKT Nyaru Menteng, BOS Foundation:
Denny Kurniawan [+62 811 5202 123]
Communications, BOS Foundation
Nur Furqon Bahmid [+62 878 7472 8242]
After a year of not being able to carry out orangutans release activities due to the global pandemic, we flew ten orangutans to the Bukit Batikap Protection Forest and the Kehje Sewen Forest for their release!
The Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park Agency, together with the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation and other parties, are releasing more orangutans in Bukit Baka Bukit
After releasing 20 Central Kalimantan orangutans on Valentine’s Day last February, the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation releases 18 more orangutans from Nyaru Menteng as a dedication to the conservation effort and the pride in Indonesian...
