PALMOILMAGAZINE, PALANGKA RAYA — In a heartfelt gesture of commitment to wildlife conservation, Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, cradled a young orangutan as he officially inaugurated the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan School, operated by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF), on Thursday (March 20).
The visit to the orangutan rehabilitation and conservation center in Nyaru Menteng, Central Kalimantan, was rich in symbolism. The minister personally carried a baby orangutan—belonging to the Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii subspecies—to its “classroom,” marking a significant moment in the ongoing effort to prepare rescued orangutans for reintroduction into their natural rainforest habitat.
“This isn’t just any school—it’s where the future of orangutans begins,” Minister Raja Juli said, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com via Antara on Thursday (April 17, 2025).
The Nyaru Menteng Orangutan School plays a vital role in equipping orphaned and rescued orangutans with essential survival skills. Victims of illegal wildlife trade, deforestation, and human-wildlife conflict, these orangutans are taught how to climb, forage for natural food, and recognize predators—skills necessary for their eventual return to the wild.
Managed by BOSF, the facility is one of the largest orangutan rehabilitation centers in the world, currently caring for hundreds of orangutans of varying ages and health conditions.
During the event, the Forestry Minister praised BOSF’s ongoing efforts and called for stronger collaboration between government and non-governmental organizations in wildlife conservation. He emphasized the orangutan’s crucial ecological role as a keystone species that helps maintain the health and balance of tropical forests.
“Orangutans are not just icons of Kalimantan—they are guardians of our forests. Protecting them is essential to safeguarding the future of our environment,” he said. (P2)
