BOS Foundation and FOUR PAWS release for the first time orangutan orphans from Forest School in Borneo
Animal welfare organizations Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) and FOUR PAWS have released six orangutan orphans into the protected Kehje Sewen forest in Borneo. These six “pioneers” are the first orangutan orphans that during a training programme in the innovative “Forest School” have for years been taught by humans all necessary skills and competences to survive in the rain forest.
The stranded apes were rescued as newborns and brought into the sanctuary in Samboja run by BOS. Most of them were traumatized as they had experienced the killing of their mothers. In the forest school they were being raised, taken care of and systematically prepared for their eventual release by especially trained caretakers.
Dr. Signe Preuschoft, a renowned primatologist and scientific consultant at FOUR PAWS, has contributed crucially to the development of the innovative rehabilitation programme for orangutan orphans. She has accompanied the release of the orangutans.
Dr. Signe Preuschoft during the release of the orangutan orphans
The orphans will from now on live in the protected Kehje Sewen forest and will during their first year in the wild be monitored intensively but discreetly by well-trained staff. By means of special radio transmitters the “guardians” will be able to follow the animals’ movements 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The findings of the monitoring will have an impact on the training programmes of some 100 other orangutans in the Samboja sanctuary also to be released eventually.
Hundreds of orangutans in Indonesia stranded every year
As a consequence of the escalating destruction of the environment in Indonesia, hundreds of orangutans are stranded every year. They die of hunger - because the trees that feed them are logged - or in forest fires. The rain forest is cleared to give way to palm oil plantations. Unauthorized hunters shoot or slay orangutans to death for the head money and to engage in the illegal trade of the baby-oangutans. BOS runs rehabilitation centres and sanctuaries for orantutans in Indonesa and in doing this is funded and scientifically supported by FOUR PAWS International. Stranded orangutans are rescued by BOS, others are confiscated by authorities and transferred to BOS.
Orangutan orphans in the protected Kehje Sewen forest in Borneo
The six orangutan orphans have dared their first steps into freedom and have explored their new habitat with great interest. One of them is the Casey. She came as a four-year old to Samboja. Her left hand is crippled and has only two crooked fingers. At the home of her former owner, she got hold of electric cables and was injured severely. Despite of her handicap she manages great in the forest.
Casey moving elegantly through the forest
and swinging from branch to branch
Our FOUR PAWS colleague Chris Williams attended the release of the orangutans and shares his experience. Read his report here
Samboja/Laas Kehje Sewen (Indonesia), 14 May 2012
Photos © VIER PFOTEN
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