PALMOILMAGAZINE, KUTAI TIMUR — As the early morning sun filtered through the dense canopy of Borneo’s rainforest, the quiet creak of a steel cage door broke the silence. From within, a female orangutan named Mori emerged, pausing to breathe in the forest air before climbing the nearest tree. Close behind, Bugis followed, his eyes scanning the branches like someone reconnecting with a long-lost home.
April 23, 2025, marked a historic milestone in Indonesia’s orangutan conservation efforts. Six orangutans—five released into the wild and one reintroduced after recovery—were returned to their natural habitat in East Kalimantan. This release was a collaborative effort involving Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), the East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF), and Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP), conducted in the working area of PT Restorasi Habitat Orangutan Indonesia (RHOI), Kutai Timur Regency.
But this was more than just a wildlife release—it was a story of hope, dedication, and multi-stakeholder cooperation to save one of the world’s most iconic species from extinction.
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From Samboja Lestari to the Forest
The journey began on April 22, 2025, at the Samboja Lestari Rehabilitation Center. Orangutans were sedated carefully, then placed into transport cages for a long road trip to their new forest home. Animal welfare was paramount, with frequent checks every two hours, including fresh fruit and water, to ensure the orangutans’ comfort.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni symbolically flagged off the release team that evening. After a 12-hour drive to Muara Wahau, the team rested briefly before continuing by river. Their cages, now equipped with flotation devices, were ferried across by boat to the release point—a five-minute but tense journey into the heart of Kehje Sewen Forest.
New Beginnings in the Wild
Once deep in the forest, the release began. Mori, previously released in 2019 but brought back due to illness, was the first to step out. Now healthy and strong, she returned to the wild. Bugis followed shortly, and the two were even seen mating—a positive sign of natural adaptation.
Mikhayla, rescued from a mining area in a severely malnourished state, was released by the minister himself. The moment her cage opened, she leapt energetically and climbed the nearest tree with remarkable agility.
Siti and Uli were next. Siti dashed out with excitement, while Uli took a more cautious approach, carefully examining her surroundings. Finally, Sie-Sie, a dominant male with distinctive cheek pads, showed signs of stress-induced aggression—but was safely released.
Monitoring and the Road Ahead
That evening, the team gathered at Camp Nles Mamse to review the operation. Each step—from departure to release—was scrutinized, with discussions focused on field challenges and improvements for future releases.
This is where the Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team takes over. For the next month, they will track the orangutans’ movements, ensuring they adapt well before they begin exploring the deeper forest independently.
This release wasn’t just a technical success—it stood as a testament to the power of persistence, collaboration, and compassion in protecting endangered species.
The stories of Mori, Bugis, Mikhayla, Siti, Uli, and Sie-Sie are now woven into the broader narrative of orangutan survival. Under the green canopy of Kehje Sewen, hope grows—branch by branch, step by step, in the freedom these great apes have finally reclaimed. (P2)
