MOZA’S JOURNEY FROM KUWAIT TO MOTHERHOOD ON KAJA ISLAND
On September 13, 2015, a two-year-old female orangutan began a long journey back to Indonesia. The young orangutan was later named Moza.
Roy, a young male orangutan estimated to be around two years old, is now undergoing rehabilitation at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Central Kalimantan. Roy was found alone by a local resident who was on his way to go fishing, with no mother in sight.
Roy was first discovered by a local resident who was fishing in the Kahayan Hulu Muroi Forest area. Moved by compassion, the resident took Roy home and cared for him privately for approximately five months before eventually bringing him to the city of Palangka Raya.
On 16 January 2026, the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) received a report from a resident of Jalan Merdeka, Palangka Raya, who voluntarily wished to surrender the baby orangutan. Acting on this report, the BKSDA team immediately went to the location, evacuated Roy, and transferred him to the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS Foundation) at Nyaru Menteng for further health examinations and rehabilitation.
Upon arrival at Nyaru Menteng, Roy appeared to be overweight, with visible fat deposits under both armpits. This condition was caused by excessive weight gain resulting from an inappropriate diet during his time in captivity. Roy had frequently been given sweetened condensed milk and sugary fruits, while he tended to refuse sour fruits. This was evident when Roy was offered langsat fruit, which he rejected and later experienced diarrhea.
Currently, Roy is undergoing a quarantine period while awaiting laboratory test results to ensure his overall health condition. Based on recommendations from the medical team, Roy has also begun a dietary program to help reduce his weight to a healthy level, with the hope that the fat deposits under his armpits will gradually diminish.
Despite still being in quarantine, Roy displays a very active personality. He enjoys swinging using rubber tires, climbing, and constantly moving around to explore his quarantine enclosure. Roy is also known to dislike being carried and often removes his diaper because he feels uncomfortable.
On one occasion, Roy was taken outside the quarantine area to play and climb trees. However, because he became too absorbed in playing, he moved from one tree to another, prompting his surrogate mother to call out and chase after him to prevent him from wandering too far. Since that incident, for safety reasons and while awaiting the completion of his health examinations, Roy has been allowed to play only within the quarantine area.
At present, Roy remains under close observation and intensive care at Nyaru Menteng. Once he is declared healthy and medically ready, Roy is expected to join a small group with other baby orangutans to begin learning essential life skills.
Roy’s journey is still a long one. However, with proper care, the loving guidance of his surrogate mothers, and a structured rehabilitation process, Roy now has a second chance to grow into a healthy young orangutan.
On September 13, 2015, a two-year-old female orangutan began a long journey back to Indonesia. The young orangutan was later named Moza.
In the Tuanan Research Station, wild male orangutans move through the canopy with remarkable strength and grace. Among them is Dayak: a majestic flanged male whose broad cheek pads signal maturity, dominance, and excellent health.
Do you remember the story of Sally and her little furry friend? That simple story actually opens a wider window into our understanding of orangutan social interaction.
