In September 2025, the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre welcomed a new arrival. A young female orangutan was voluntarily handed over by a resident of Muara Teweh, North Barito Regency, Central Kalimantan.
According to the local resident who found her, the infant orangutan was discovered on a road within an oil palm plantation. Out of compassion, the resident took her home and cared for her for two days before contacting the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) to surrender the protected animal.
The tiny orangutan, later named Pororo, was estimated to be about twelve months old and weighed just 1.96 kilograms upon arrival. Although she showed no visible injuries, her frail and underweight body concerned both our medical team and surrogate mothers. Pororo also appeared to refuse to drink milk, raising further concerns about her health. Medical examinations later revealed that Pororo had malaria. She was promptly given special treatment, while her surrogate mother remained by her side to provide comfort and care.
In the days that followed, Pororo began showing signs of improvement. Her appetite for milk gradually returned, and her affectionate personality started to emerge. Whenever her surrogate mother stood up, Pororo would whimper from her basket, reaching for her pants and trying to climb up for cuddles and comfort.
During the day, Pororo began to explore her surroundings, climbing small trees in the quarantine complex. She enjoyed hanging with one hand as if testing her growing strength. Yet, one thing still frightened him: long-tailed macaques. Each time she spotted them nearby, Pororo would quickly scramble down to her hammock, whining and seeking reassurance from her surrogate mother.
Pororo is currently completing her quarantine period. Once her health is fully stabilized, she will join the Nursery Group with other orangutan infants to begin the first stage of her rehabilitation journey.
With the dedicated care of our surrogate mothers and medical team, we are hopeful that Pororo will continue to grow stronger and healthier. This critical time will help him develop the essential survival skills she will one day need when she is ready to return to her true home, the rainforests of Kalimantan.
Text by: Communications Team at Nyaru Menteng, Central Kalimantan
Will you help us rescue, rehabilitate, and release orangutans back to freedom? We can only save the orangutan together. Thank you!
