The female orangutan Jossy, who has been popular amongst our “adoptive parents”, has just become a mother.
On March 2, 2011, little Jossy—who was between 1 and 2 years old at the time—arrived at the Nyaru Menteng rehabilitation center. At first, she was an insecure orangutan, but she has developed beautifully over the years and has won the hearts of many of our supporters as one of the orangutans in the adoption program.
Now there is big news about Jossy: She has become a mother.
Jossy has completed the forest school and now lives on Kaya Island in the Island-universe. Here, she practices the skills she has learned in forest school before it can finally be assessed whether she is ready to be released into the rainforest.
It was assumed that Jossy was pregnant in February 2024, as her belly was growing. The veterinary team made further observations on the island and could confirm that a little new orangutan was indeed on the way. After that, Jossy received vitamins and extra food, and in July 2024, she finally gave birth to her young one.
Jossy and the little orangutan are usually deep within the island. They come out when the caregivers bring extra food to the feeding platform, but Jossy can be a bit reserved and only comes down to get something to eat when the males are a distance away.
Orangutans in the Island-universe actually receive contraceptives to avoid becoming pregnant during the time when they should focus on getting ready for the rainforest. However, the contraceptive does not guarantee with a hundred percent certainty that the orangutan will not become pregnant.
Now, the highest priority for the veterinarians and caregivers is to ensure that Jossy and her young one are doing well, and all indications suggest that Jossy will manage well—even as a mother.
Jossy is very attentive to her little one, and according to the veterinary team, both Jossy and her offspring are in good health and thriving on the island.
Read also: Orangutans show signs of empathy.
