Dewi is a female orangutan who was confiscated by the Conservation and Natural Resources Authority (BKSDA) from a resident in Surabaya, East Java. Dewi was flown back to Kalimantan and joined the rehabilitation program in Nyaru Menteng on November 10, 2001 when she was only 6 years old. Joyful news came last April, when Dewi delivered a female baby on Kaja Island where she now resides.
According to the technicians, Dewi was estimated to have given birth on April 10 2013. The baby girl who was named Debora, is Dewi's third offspring. Dewi gave birth to her first young, a boy named Darwin in Nyaru Menteng on November 17, 2004. Darwin is now 9 years old and lives independently on Kaja Island. Dewi's second child was born in 2006.
Debora Exposed to Rengas' sap
Early May 2013, baby Debora was observed to be unwell. Her skin was covered with dry, peeling bumps. Everytime she drew a breath, her throat produced snoring sounds. Seeing this, dr. Fiet from the Nyaru Menteng Medical Team, assisted by the technicians, moved Dewi and Debora to the Clinic for treatment.
As soon as they arrived at the Clinic, Dewi was placed in a quarantine enclosure while Debora was immidiately admitted to the isolation room to undergo treatment. The one month old baby who weighed 1.4 kg wasn't too happy to be separated from her mother, but it was a much needed process to ensure she received optimal treatment.
The medical examination results showed that Debora's condition was an allergic reaction to Rengas's sap. Rengas (Gluta renghas) can be commonly found on Kaja Island. Its sap can cause skin irritation, with redness and itchiness
Debora brought to the clinic by Indrayana
Debora is now healthy again by Indrayana
Back to her mother’s arms by Indrayana
Dewi kissing Debora by Indrayana
Dewi and Debora smiling again
After 9 days of intensive care within the isolation room, on May 13 2013, Debora was declared healthy and she could be reunited with her mother.
We could see how Dewi's face was filled with joy as she saw a babysitter standing in front of her enclosure, carrying her baby Debora. Even as a technician was opening the door, Dewi reached out her hands towards Debora, as if she couldn't wait to have her back in her arms.
As soon as the door was opened and the babysitter gave Debora to her mother, Dewi immediately showered her with kisses and hugged her tight. The loving mother then softly caressed Debora's head and body. Dewi was also seen lifting tiny Debora and checking her physical condition thoroughly.
With quick coordination among the divisions, in this case the technicians and medical team, we can ensure that sick orangutans can receive treatment immidiately. Ensuring we provide the highest level of care and welfare to the orangutans is top priority within the BOS Foundation. Well done to our team at Nyaru Menteng for your dedication to ensure we continually reach this goal.
The BOS Foundation, together with the KLHK and the BKSDA of Central Kalimantan will soon conduct the 44th orangutan release from the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre to the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park (TNBBBR).
Every year on April 22, we celebrate Earth Day to honour the planet that is home to us all.
It was a usual day at the Nyaru Menteng forest school, where young orangutans were learning from one another while their human surrogate mothers looked on from below.
