Marking a significant start to the new year, the East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) successfully rescued a one-year-old female orangutan from captivity. 

Adorable Jenny in a comforting embrace.

The young orangutan, named Jenny, had been kept as a pet for five months before her rescue, which took place in Pendamaran Village, Kembang Janggut, Kutai Kartanegara Regency.Although Jenny was found in good health she was placed in quarantine following standard rescue protocols to ensure her well-being.

Jenny’s story began in an oil palm plantation, where she was found alone, separated from her mother. Taken in by a resident, she was kept as a pet until the BKSDA intervened. Following her rescue, Jenny was transferred to the Samboja Lestari Rehabilitation Center, operated by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. At the center, she will undergo a medical evaluation and begin her rehabilitation process. This includes providing a safe environment, proper nutrition, and training through the Forest School to ensure that the orangutan will eventually be able to re-adapt to life in the wild.

Jenny’s rescue underscores the persistent challenges faced by wildlife in Kalimantan, including the loss of habitats and human-wildlife conflicts. It also highlights the critical role of community awareness and cooperation in protecting endangered species and preventing their capture or domestication.

We look forward to following Jenny’s progress and witnessing her future return to her rightful home in the rainforest.