A FRAGILE START TOWARDS A STRONGER TOMORROW
The Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre has recently welcomed a new arrival—a tiny female orangutan named Pororo.
Arrival at Nyaru Menteng
A local resident who voluntarily handed over Pororo reported that she was found on a road within an oil palm plantation. Out of compassion, the resident took Pororo home and cared for her for two days before contacting the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency to surrender the protected animal.
The tiny orangutan was estimated to be about twelve months old and weighed just 1.96 kilograms upon arrival. Although Pororo showed no visible injuries, her frail and underweight body concerned both our medical team and surrogate mothers. Pororo also appeared to refuse to drink milk, raising further concerns about her health. Medical examinations later revealed that the poor baby had malaria. She was promptly given special treatment, while her surrogate mother remained by her side to provide comfort and care.
Care with Compassion
In the days that followed, Pororo began showing signs of improvement. Her appetite for milk gradually returned, and her affectionate personality started to emerge. Whenever her surrogate mother stood up, Pororo would whimper from her basket, reaching for her pants and trying to climb up for cuddles and comfort.
Currently, little Pororo is in the quarantine area of the baby house, where she is slowly gaining confidence.
During the day, Pororo began to explore her surroundings, climbing small trees in the quarantine complex. She enjoyed hanging with one hand as if testing her growing strength. Yet, one thing still frightened her: long-tailed macaques. Each time she spotted them nearby, Pororo would quickly scramble down to her hammock, whining and seeking reassurance from her surrogate mother.
Hope for the Future
Pororo is currently completing her quarantine period. Once her health is fully stabilised, she will join the Nursery Group with other orangutan infants to begin the first stage of her rehabilitation journey.
Thanks to the dedicated care of our surrogate mothers and medical team, we are hopeful that Pororo will continue to grow stronger and healthier. This critical time will help her develop the essential survival skills she will one day need when she is ready to return to her true home, the rainforests of Kalimantan.
