Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — In celebration of Earth Day (April 22, 2025), the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, in collaboration with the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS Foundation) and several other partners, released five rehabilitated orangutans and one repatriated individual from Samboja Lestari into the wild. The release took place in the Kehje Sewen Forest, located in East Kutai and Kutai Kartanegara Regencies, East Kalimantan.
Since 2015, the southern part of Kehje Sewen Forest has been a release site for orangutans, and this year, it once again became a new home for five rehabilitated orangutans and one individual who had returned after undergoing intensive care at Samboja Lestari.
According to an official statement from the Ministry of Forestry, to reach the release site, the team used various modes of transportation, including vehicles, boats, and porters to carry the orangutan cages to the drop-off point in the forest. The journey took approximately 20 hours, depending heavily on field conditions, including the risk of landslides that could delay the trip.
Of the six orangutans released, there were three males and three females. One of the male orangutans was Uli, who is now 28 years old. Uli was first discovered in 2021 after wandering into a residential area on the forest edge. He was rescued by the wildlife rescue team from the East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Conservation Section III Balikpapan, in collaboration with the BOS Foundation in Samboja Lestari. After completing his rehabilitation, Uli is now in good health, weighing 80 kilograms, and ready to return to his natural habitat.
Meanwhile, Mikhayla, a 10-year-old female orangutan and the youngest in this release group, was rescued near the Sangatta–Bengalon highway, within a mining concession owned by PT Kaltim Prima Coal. When found on January 12, 2025, she was severely malnourished and showed signs of prolonged stress. The proximity of her discovery site to the main road connecting Bengalon and Muara Wahau posed an additional threat to her safety. The rescue operation was the result of close collaboration between the Ministry of Forestry and partners including the BOS Foundation (BOSF), Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP), and Conservation Action Network (CAN). Upon arrival at Samboja Lestari, Mikhayla received intensive medical care, including nutritional supplements and deworming treatment. After three months of rehabilitation, her condition improved significantly, and she is now ready to begin a new chapter of her life in Kehje Sewen Forest.
Additionally, one of the released female orangutans was Mori. Mori had previously been released in 2019 but had to be returned to Samboja Lestari in 2020 for intensive care. Now, after recovering and being deemed fit for release, Mori is finally able to return to her forest home.
In his remarks, the Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, Raja Juli Antoni, stated that this release is not merely ceremonial but a tangible manifestation of all stakeholders’ commitment to preserving Indonesia’s natural heritage, especially the extraordinary and critically important species that is the Bornean orangutan.
The Minister emphasized that the Ministry of Forestry remains committed to strengthening conservation policies grounded in science, ecosystem-based approaches, and community participation.
“Through programs such as ecosystem restoration, strengthening conservation areas, wildlife rehabilitation, and habitat restoration, we strive to create a sustainable future for both people and nature,” said the Minister.
The Chairman of the BOS Foundation Board, Jamartin Sihite, expressed that the release of orangutans on Earth Day serves as a powerful reminder that the rehabilitation and protection of wildlife—particularly orangutans now on the brink of extinction—is a shared responsibility.
Jamartin noted that although releases continue, the challenges remain immense, with more than 350 orangutans still awaiting their future in BOSF-managed rehabilitation centers. Therefore, orangutan protection must persist with the spirit of building a just and sustainable Earth for all living beings.
