When seven orangutans were released back into the rainforest this weekend, a team from Save the Orangutan was on site in Indonesia to witness this remarkable event.
After many years of dedicated rehabilitation, the efforts finally culminated this weekend as four males and three females were released into Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park. To reach the release site, the team travelled for 16 hours – through winding jungle roads and finally by boat – before they could open the cages, one by one, and watch the orangutans take their first steps toward freedom.
“You truly feel why we fight for this”
Save the Orangutan’s Director, Marie Sigvardt, took part in the release herself – an experience she describes as both emotional and unforgettable.
“Standing side by side with our Indonesian colleagues, watching an orangutan take the first steps toward a life in freedom, that’s one of those moments you never forget. It truly makes it clear, what we fight for” she says, adding:
“It shows that our work with rehabilitation and rainforest protection really pays off – and highlights how crucial the support from our adopters, donors, and strong local partners is. It was also a great honour to share the moment with the Danish Ambassador to Indonesia, whose dedication to orangutan conservation we deeply appreciate.”
From a dark past to a bright future
The seven orangutans now released into the wild are the latest graduates from the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. Over many years, they have learned essential survival skills such as climbing, nest building and foraging for food – all to prepare them for life on their own in the forest.
Each of them carries a unique story of survival and resilience. Among them is Kapuan, a 26-year-old female repatriated from Thailand who spent 19 years in rehabilitation. Berunay, aged 23, spent more than two decades at the centre before finally returning to the wild. The young male Momot, just 12 years old, has already demonstrated remarkable independence and advanced foraging skills.
Together with the remaining four orangutans, they now begin a new chapter of freedom – symbolising hope for the future of both the orangutans and Indonesia’s precious rainforests.
Would you like to support an orphaned orangutan’s journey back to the rainforest? Adopt an orangutan.
