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.
To mark its 25th anniversary and commemorate World Environment Day, which falls annually on June 5, the BOS Foundation will journey with 5 orangutans from the BOS Foundation East Kalimantan Orangutan Reintroduction Program in Samboja Lestari and head to prepared release points in the Kehje Sewen Forest. Here are the release candidates’ profiles
Angely
Angely was rescued by the Tenggarong Regional Section II Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) from a local villager in Kaliorang Sub Regency, East Kutai, who was illegally keeping her as a pet. She arrived at Samboja Lestari on June 18, 2010, when she was 1-year-old. When she first arrived, Angely was very scared and traumaitised and resisted being carried or handled by technicians.
Angely has since grown into a smart and independent individual and now attends Forest School Level 2, where she spends her days eagerly exploring and actively moving through the trees.
Angely is now seven years old, weighs 23 kilograms and has thin, darkish-brown hair. Six years of rehabilitation at Samboja Lestari has seen Angely acquire many vital survival skills, and she is now ready to taste freedom in the Kehje Sewen Forest.
Kenji
Kenji was rescued by the Tenggarong Regional Section II Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) from a local villager in Tenggarong who claimed he had found him near a oil palm plantation in Wanasari village. Kenji was discovered in a poor condition, with a wound on his hip thought to have been inflicted by a machete. He was a distressed and traumatised 1-year-old then, who resisted being held or carried.
Kenji entered rehabilitation at Samboja Lestari on October 17, 2010, where he joined the Forest School baby group. Six years on, Kenji is now in Forest School Level 2 and has become very adept at identifying natural forest food. These days, Kenji likes to sleep in the Forest School and is easily recognised by his thin, darkish-brown hair.
After learning all he can at the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, Kenji will soon move to the Kehje Sewen Forest, where he will spend the rest of his days living in the wild.
Hope
Hope was rescued by the East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) from a local resident in Balikpapan on October 17, 2010. He came to Samboja Lestari in poor condition and was unable to sit and eat. The centre was actually full when he arrived, but the 1-year-old was in desperate need of immediate help, so space was made and our medical team quickly provided much-needed intensive treatment. It took two months and endless dedication from our team to see Hope make a full recovery.
Hope and his friends now learn and play together daily in the Forest School. He has grown wonderfully independent and is very good at foraging for natural food and constructing nests.
Handsome Hope is now six years old, weighs 27 kilograms, and has a rather muscular physique. He will soon return to his natural habitat of the Kehje Sewen Forest, in East Kalimantan.
Gadis
Gadis was five years old and weighed 23 kilograms when she was handed over by PT. Gunung Bayan Prima Coal West Kutai to the BOS Foundation’s Samboja Lestari Centre on February 20, 2014. She came to us unconscious and suffering from typhoid fever, and our medical team quickly responded by giving her intensive treatment at the clinic. Luckily, Gadis recovered and then started on her long road to rehabilitation.
Gadis has never ceased to amaze us during her time in the Forest School. With her blackish-brown hair, Gadis is popular among the males, yet prefers to be alone. Gadis can easily identify forest food, is very active up in the trees, and has sound nest-building skills.
This now 7-year-old beauty, weighing 33 kilograms, is ready to embark on a new journey: living in the the Kehje Sewen Forest.
Samboja Lestari 8th Orangutan Release Candidate Profiles (Photo credit: BOSF 2016)
Samboja Lestari 8th Orangutan Release Candidate Profiles (Photo credit: BOSF 2016)
Samboja Lestari 8th Orangutan Release Candidate Profiles (Photo credit: BOSF 2016)
Samboja Lestari 8th Orangutan Release Candidate Profiles (Photo credit: BOSF 2016)
Samboja Lestari 8th Orangutan Release Candidate Profiles (Photo credit: BOSF 2016)
Raymond
Raymond arrived at Samboja Lestari on April 27, 2007, after being rescued by the East Kalimantan BKSDA from a local villager in Bontang, East Kalimantan. At the time he was only eight months old, weighed 3.6 kilograms, and was severely traumatised. He instinctively avoided human contact. After completing quarantine, Raymond joined other baby orangutans in the Forest School nursery group. Over time, Raymond has grown into a great individual and is now in Forest School Group 2.
Raymond has thin, blackish-brown hair and is easily identified by his wide forehead and small eyes. He becomes agitated whenever he encounters a human unknown to him and is one of the more dominant figures in his group. In the Forest School, Raymond is very active up in the trees and is an avid explorer with a good sense of where to find natural food.
Raymond is now nine years old and weighs 29 kilograms. With the skills he has learned at the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, Raymond is more than ready to start living as a wild orangutan in the Kehje Sewen Forest.
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.
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.
