On Thursday, January 15, 2026, the collaborative efforts of three agencies resulted in the successful release of three Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) into the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park (TNBBBR) in West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
The West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA West Kalimantan), the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park Authority (BTNBBBR), and Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI) worked together to release the orangutans into the Mentatai Resort management area, Menukung Subdistrict, Melawi Regency, West Kalimantan.
Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI) is a strategic partner of International Animal Rescue (IAR) and has been collaborating for 17 years to protect wildlife and habitats while positively impacting communities, ecosystems, and the environment.
The TNBBBR was chosen as the release site due to its good forest cover, abundant food resources, and low human pressure. The area is also regularly monitored through BTNBBBR patrols, making it a safe habitat for orangutans. These primates play a crucial role in maintaining forest health as seed dispersers and forest gap creators. The addition of rehabilitated orangutans to this area is expected to strengthen the long-term population of Bornean orangutans and aid in preserving the forests of TNBBBR.
The release team had to travel by land and river and trek through the forest to reach the release point within TNBBBR. This journey took approximately three days from YIARI’s Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The local communities also played a crucial role in the release, serving as cage porters and facilitating the operation while fostering a sense of ownership towards orangutans and the surrounding forests.
The three orangutans released were Badul, Korwas, and Asoka, who were entrusted by BKSDA West Kalimantan to YIARI’s Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Ketapang. The rehabilitation process aimed to restore natural behaviors necessary for survival in the wild, such as foraging, ranging, and nest-building skills, and rebuilding wild behavior while maintaining a distance from humans.
Infant orangutans typically learn life skills from their mothers for 6-8 years, but when separated due to illegal keeping, wildlife trade, or habitat pressure, they require a lengthy rehabilitation process before being ready to return to their natural habitat.
Badul, a male orangutan, was previously kept at Sinka Island Park in Singkawang and had to relearn “forest life” when he arrived at YIARI’s rehabilitation center. Over eight years, he developed essential skills such as long-distance ranging, foraging for natural forest food, and building his own nests. With a nearly fourfold increase in body weight and excellent health examination results, Badul has graduated from “forest school” and is ready to return to life in the forests of TNBBBR.
Korwas, a female orangutan, was a victim of illegal wildlife trade through social media and was rescued by the Forest Police Rapid Response Unit (SPORC). She arrived at YIARI with a fungal skin infection, but after receiving treatment, she began showing increasingly wild behaviors necessary for survival in the forest. Now, with a clean bill of health, Korwas is ready to return to the wild in TNBBBR.
Asoka, a male orangutan, was rescued as an infant from residents in Sungai Besar. He was kept as a pet and fed sweetened condensed milk daily, resulting in a vulnerable condition upon arrival at YIARI. With support from the medical team and caretakers, Asoka learned essential skills such as climbing, foraging, and nest-building and is now ready to return to his true home in the forests of TNBBBR.
Drh. Andini Nurillah, YIARI’s Animal Management Manager, emphasized the importance of health considerations before making release decisions. All three orangutans underwent strict and routine health examinations throughout their rehabilitation period, and their release was approved due to their good physical condition, stable health, and behaviors that support successful survival in the wild.
Prior to their release, the orangutans underwent pre-release medical procedures, including physical exams, diagnostic tests, and identity verification. After their release, a joint YIARI-BTNBBBR team will monitor their adaptation process, focusing on foraging ability, nest-building, and maintaining wild behavior.
Silverius Oscar Unggul, YIARI’s Chairman, expressed appreciation for the synergy among all parties involved in the release. He stated that the successful return of orangutans to the forest is not only good news for YIARI, but also for the future of Indonesia’s biodiversity. He also thanked the support of BKSDA West Kal
