In 2024, our Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team in the Bukit Batikap Protected Forest once again observed one of the orangutans frequently visiting Camp Totat Jalu—Inung and her offspring, Indie. However, there was a special surprise in August: Inung had given birth to a male baby orangutan, now named Indro.
Since early July 2024, Inung and Indie were often seen roaming around Camp Totat Jalu. They were known for their habit of visiting the guava tree behind the camp, foraging for fruits and cassava as their primary food sources. Although Indie had grown bigger, she was still highly dependent on her mother. She frequently begged for food directly from Inung and clung to her whenever our team encountered them.
In July, our team began noticing physical changes in Inung. Her belly appeared larger, and her vulva was swollen—clear signs that she was pregnant. However, this did not affect her daily activities as she continued foraging and caring for Indie.
On August 21, 2024, while the team was cleaning the camp after a flood, they spotted Inung sitting in a tree in front of the camp, closely watching the activities around her. At first, only Indie was visible, clinging to her shoulders. But as Inung stood up and started moving, the team was stunned to see a tiny infant cradled in her arms. The baby was estimated to have been born in late July 2024, as Inung had not yet given birth during the last observation.
This newborn orangutan, later named Indro, appeared healthy and was seen nursing frequently. Inung was highly protective of Indro, ensuring he remained safe in her embrace. During the observation, Inung continued her usual routine of foraging around the camp, feeding on guava, cassava, and banana shoots.
Now an older sister to Indro, Indie displayed intriguing behavioural changes. While she still occasionally begged for food from Inung, Indie also started showing independence by daring to explore up to 10-15 meters away from her mother. She was also observed climbing trees as high as 20 meters to search for food before returning to her mother.
Indie’s attitude towards observers also shifted. She became more alert and defensive, shaking tree branches as a warning whenever she sensed human presence nearby. Additionally, she showed protective behavior toward her little brother by always staying close to him.
The birth of Indro marks an important milestone in the rehabilitation journey of orangutans in Batikap Forest. With the arrival of this new baby, hopes are high that the reintroduced orangutan population will continue to grow naturally in their habitat. As a mother of four, Inung exemplifies how reintroduced female orangutans can successfully survive and reproduce in the wild.
The PRM team will continue monitoring Inung, Indie, and Indro, ensuring they thrive in their natural habitat. The presence of this small family is a testament to the success of conservation efforts, proving that years of dedication and protection have yielded positive results.
Text by: PRM Team at Totat Jalu Camp, HL Batikap, Central Kalimantan
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