SAMBOJA LESTARI ORANGUTAN RELEASE CANDIDATE PROFILE #4

In the near future, orangutan population in Kehje Sewen forest will increase. There are at least three rehabilitated orangutan from Orangutan Reintroduction Center at Samboja Lestari who will be reintroduced into the forest on October 13-14, 2013. They are Emerson, Sarmi, Mona, Noel, Siwie, Inge, Mayang, Agus, and Acong. Here are their profiles.

Emerson
Emerson was already a young adult of around 15 years old when he was rescued in Sangatta and taken to Samboja Lestari on February 11, 2001. Due to his size as well as our capacity in Samboja Lestari, which at that time had reached its maximum, Emerson was placed in an individual enclosure.

Although he demonstrates a healthy dislike towards humans, during his years at Samboja Lestari, Emerson has turned out to be very gentle towards female orangutans. He is also kind to other orangutans in general and was hence moved to a pre-released island. The island was already occupied by Leo and “his gang” (Leo was released into the Kehje Sewen forest, in April 2013) , and so we observed the group closely for quite some time as a precaution. But Leo welcomed Emerson and was actually quite intrigued by this giant new male with big striking cheek-pads. Emerson responded coolly but was clearly glad that his presence was not challenged. Although the two never become best buddies, they have never been aggressive towards each other. While Leo courts Juminten, Emerson has developed a close relationship with Sarmi. Life is good on the island. Now, 26 year-old Emerson is preparing for his final journey. Emerson is finally returning to his rightful home!

Sarmi
A young female orangutan of 4-5 years old was rescued near a coal mine in Sangatta. That year, 1998, many coal mining companies aggressively expanded their operations in the area resulting in overwhelming habitat loss for many wild animals, including orangutans. On a positive note though, some companies did take responsibility for their actions by extensively funding and facilitating rescue activities. They were also actively involved in many awareness-building programs in the area.

Named Sarmi, this young female orangutan was taken to Samboja Lestari on October 6, 1998. With Mona and many other orangutans rescued during that period, Sarmi grew up in a socialization enclosure until 2010, when she was moved to Island 6, a pre-release island at Samboja Lestari, along with four other females, two mother-child pairs and an orphaned baby male orangutan named Saprol. By that time, Sarmi already had a young daughter, Sani who was born in 2005. Unexpectedly, Sarmi adopted Saprol! She raised and cared for him as her own son and as a brother to her daughter Sani. Earlier this year, we introduced Sarmi to Emerson, a huge and gorgeous male and also one of our current release candidates. The two bonded quickly and have since developed a wonderful relationship. We can’t wait to see these two orangutans take their relationship to a new level when they are both released in the forest!

Mona
Little Mona was 4-5 years old when she first came to Samboja Lestari on September 28, 1997. Rescued in Tenggarong, Mona was such a beautiful orangutan with round face and dark maroon hair typical of East Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus morio). Growing up with friends of the same age in a socialization enclosure, Mona finally earned a place on a pre-release island in 2010, where she quickly learned forest skills from Leo as well as from other older orangutans. She paid special attention to Leo especially when he was making a nest and seemed to make a mental note of the types of branches and leaves Leo used to make his nest. Pretty soon, Mona could build a nest as sturdy and comfy as Leo’s!

She is obviously a very smart orangutan. She has also steadily demonstrated her ability to climb, swing and identify yummy forest foods. Although on the island Mona is at the bottom of the hierarchy, big brother role model Leo is quite fond of her and often lets her build her nest in the same tree as his. The other females are also very tolerant with Mona and love to play with her. Only Juminten keeps her distance from Mona obviously to maintain her dominant position. Even so, Juminten too is never aggressive towards Mona showing that Mona is a sociable and likeable orangutan. Beautiful Mona has become an independent adult and now at 20 years old, Mona is more than ready to be reintroduced back into the wild.

Noel
Noel is a male orangutan who came from Sangatta.  When he first arrived at Samboja Lestari on October 4, 2002, he was only around 1-2 years old.  In the Forest School, Noel was a quick learner. He was skillful in recognising natural foods and foraging, and also in building nests. He loved to explore the forest and had an amazing ability of escaping from his babysitters’ watch whenever he liked.

Now approximately 13 years old and weighing 35 kg, Noel is ready to explore Kehje Sewen forest, his soon to be his new forever home.

Siwie
Siwie was handed over to Samboja Lestari by KRUS (Mulawarman University Botanical Garden in Samarinda) on March 16, 2006.  Siwie is an old friend of Abbie’s who was also previously located at KRUS.  Abbie was released into the Kehje Sewen forest, in May 2012 and soon Siwie will join her!

Siwie is an independent female orangutan and skillful in recognising natural foods. She has maintained much of her wild behavior and was therefore able to complete her rehabilitation process in a relatively short time  compared to other orangutans. Despite her wild nature, she is not aggressive towards her friends and is currently good friends with Noel and Inge who are also cared for in Samboja Lestari.

Siwie is now 13 years old and weighs 30 kg.  Soon, Siwie will return to her natural habitat in Kehje Sewen with her best friends. Perhaps, she will also have a reunion with her old friend Abbie.

Inge
Inge was kept as a pet by a resident of Bontang for 3.5 years, She was bought from an illegal pet trader for 30,000 rupiah when she was only 6 months old. She was then handed over to Samboja Lestari on March 3, 2002 when she was around 3-4 years old.

Inge graduated from the Forest School with outstanding development. She is very skillful in choosing her food and building nests. While living in the Socialisation Complex and being prepared as a release candidate, Inge is a dominant orangutan. She is also crowned as the most beautiful orangutan there thanks to her beautiful face and hair.

Inge is now around 15 years old and weighs 37 kg. Soon she will have her freedom in the lush Kehje Sewen forest.

Mayang
Mayang arrived in Samboja Lestari on March 20, 2007, handed over by the Banjar Baru, South Kalimantan Conservation and Natural Resources Authority. She was 9-10 years old.

When she first arrived in Samboja Lestari, Mayang was very stressed and struggled to settle in. Her stomach was suffering from circular wounds from the chain which had  bound her, set by her owner.

Mayang is now around 16 years old and weighs 46 kg. After 6 years of progressing through the rehabilitation process in Samboja Lestari, Mayang has  developed her forest skills, including nest building and identifying natural foods. In Samboja Lestari, she is good friends with Cici. Together they love to spend their time in the trees. Soon these two best friends will live amongst the dense forest of Kehje Sewen, their new home.

Agus
Agus arrived in Samboja Lestari on February 3, 2003 when he was only 3-4 years old. He was delivered by his former owner, a resident of Tenggarong.

A graduate of Forest School with outstanding results, Agus’s forest survival skills are beyond any doubt. Once, Agus ran away from the rehabilitation complex and lived in the forest of Samboja Lestari for months. Since that time, Agus was retrieved and placed in the Socialisation Complex to be prepared as a release candidate.

Now he is 14 years old and weighs 56 kg, he can’t wait to explore the canopy of the Kehje Sewen forest.

Acong
Acong arrived in Samboja Lestari on Novermber 1, 1998 when she was only about 8-9 months old. Now, she is 14 years old and weighs 41 kg, and has graduated from the Forest School and the pre-release island. In the Forest School, she was very close to her babysitter. Even so, she was very skillful in climbing trees. With her two best friends Cici and Mayang, Acong spent a lot of time in the trees.

Acong now lives within pre-release quarantine enclosure, preparing to go back to the forest.  There, she is the second most dominant female orangutan after Cici.  Soon, along with her two best friends, Acong will live and play in the real forest - Kehje Sewen.