Another story about a mother and her infant from one of our release locations in Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park (TNBBBR). This time, our Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team in the Hiran watershed successfully observed Hilda, a female orangutan released back into the wild in 2019.
Hilda was carrying a tiny female infant she had given birth to while on a pre-release island when she was released. Hadijah was the name given for the baby. Unfortunately, Hadijah was no longer seen with Hilda after three years of their absence. Hilda reappeared in last 2022, carrying a new baby. This special infant orangutan was eventually called Hiran, representing the forest area where rehabilitated orangutans can live freely in the wild.
Hiran’s presence is an important reminder in efforts to release orangutans into the wild. When observed, the infant orangutan was just a few months old and fully depending on Hilda for both nourishment and protection. Hiran, like other young orangutans, will spend his first 7-8 years of life clinging to Hilda, studying her every move and developing basic survival skills for life in the forest.
Recently, the monitoring team spotted Hilda and Hiran again in a bamboo forest area. The two were relaxing while enjoying tender bamboo shoots and leaves. Now, estimated to be around 2–3 years old, Hiran still stays close to Hilda. This is a critical time for him to learn how to forage, build nests, and explore the forest.
The journey ahead for Hiran is one of discovery and growth. Over the next 5 years, Hiran will continue to rely on Hilda while gradually developing the basic skills to become an independent orangutan. The journey to independence includes learning to build nests for sleeping, identifying and foraging for food, and navigating the dense Bornean rainforest.
Hilda’s journey is equally inspiring. She was rescued from a palm oil farm in the Kotawaringin Timur Regency in 2007. Hilda succeeded at learning the important lessons for survival in the wild while at the rehabilitation centre. The Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation’s rehabilitation and reintroduction program provided her with a second chance to live freely. Her capacity to thrive in the wild, together with her role as a mother, proves the efficiency of conservation initiatives and provides hope for the future of Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus).
The story of Hilda and Hiran would not have been possible without the hard work of our Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team in the field. Their dedication ensures that orangutans like Hilda and Hiran can thrive in their natural habitat, indirectly helping to maintain the ecological balance of the forest.
The presence of this mother and child serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting orangutans and their habitats. Every action, no matter how small, contributes to the preservation of these extraordinary creatures and the rainforests they call home. Let us continue to support and celebrate conservation efforts so that orangutans like Hilda and Hiran can have a brighter future in the wild.
Text by: PRM Team at Himba Pambelum Monitoring Camp, TNBBBR, Central Kalimantan
Will you help us rescue, rehabilitate and release orangutans back to freedom? Thank you!
