A 1.5-year-old female orangutan was successfully rescued from a resident’s home in Kuala Kurun, Gunung Mas Regency, and is now under the care of the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation’s medical team at the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre.
The young orangutan, named Momo by the resident who kept her, was reportedly found alone and without her mother in the forest near Dahian Tambuk Village. The man who found her intended to hand her over to the authorities. He kept Momo for six months in a wooden chicken cage behind his house while searching for the proper wildlife authorities.
During that time, Momo was fed rice, cakes, and powdered milk. Unusually, she refused to eat fruits, which are a vital part of a wild orangutan’s natural diet.
Upon receiving the report, a joint team from the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the BOS Foundation travelled approximately four hours from Palangka Raya to carry out the rescue. Momo was found confined in a cramped chicken cage and was immediately examined by our veterinarian, Dr. Arga Sawung Kusuma.
Although she appeared active and had a good appetite, Momo was suffering from a fever with a body temperature of 38.3°C. She was treated with analgesics before being transferred to the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre.
Once at the centre, Momo underwent a series of comprehensive health checks, including blood tests and X-rays. The results revealed an old fracture in the index toe of her right foot—an injury believed to have occurred some time ago and is now slowly healing.
No one knows exactly what hardship Momo endured that caused her separation from her mother and the injury she sustained. This teeny orangutan is in safe hands and receiving the care she needs.
Momo must now complete a 2-3-month quarantine period before she can be introduced to other orangutans. During this time, she is kept in the quarantine area, closely monitored by our experienced veterinary team and lovingly cared for by her surrogate mother, Mama Ursula. The good news is that Momo’s condition is steadily improving. Within days of her rescue, her fever subsided and her appetite returned. She has begun to enjoy eating fruits such as bananas, melons, and guavas—just as a young orangutan should.
Even more encouraging is her growing instinct to climb and hang from tree branches. To support her development, Mama Ursula places fruits on elevated branches to encourage Momo to climb and eat on her own. These promising signs are crucial for her rehabilitation and eventual return to the forest.
Momo’s journey to full recovery is just beginning. But with proper care, patience, and love, there is hope that one day she will return to her natural home in the wild—where she truly belongs.
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!
