Jumbo is the fifth orangutan to be released into the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park (TNBBBR) in Central Kalimantan, following Happy, Runtu, Jengyos, Rongda, and Radmala. This release was conducted by the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia and the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) as part of a joint effort to return orangutans to their natural habitat.
Jumbo’s release is a tangible result of the long rehabilitation process he began in 2013. As soon as the transport cage door opened, Jumbo showed great enthusiasm. Eagerly, he stepped out and began exploring the surrounding area. Interestingly, instead of climbing a tree right away, Jumbo chose to spend more time exploring the forest floor. According to our veterinarian, this was likely part of his adaptation process—getting to know his new environment more closely.
His curiosity about his surroundings was clear. At one point, he approached our Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team, who were observing from a distance. Realizing the PRM team posed no threat, Jumbo eventually climbed a tree and began munching on young leaves. He looked calm and at ease among the branches, occasionally glancing at our team, who continued to record his every move.
As night began to fall, Jumbo displayed another important survival skill—nest building. He began gathering leaves to construct a place to rest. Uniquely, he chose to build his nest on a sturdy lower branch, rather than in the canopy like most wild orangutans. Once finished, he relaxed in his nest, quietly observing the forest as it was slowly enveloped by darkness.
As the sun set behind the trees, Jumbo grew sleepy. Before long, he fell sound asleep in his simple nest, right in the heart of the lush tropical forest that now serves as his new home. This marks a brand new beginning for Jumbo, a long-awaited moment of freedom since the day he first arrived at the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre.
Text by: Communication Team, BOS Foundation Headquarters, Bogor, West Java
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