FREEDOM FOR 11 ORANGUTANS
In two separate transfers from our rehabilitation centers in Central and East Kalimantan, the BOS Foundation team released six and five orangutans back into the wild, bringing the total number of orangutans reintroduced since 2012 to 549.
At BOS, nothing excites us more than bringing the orangutans we have cared for back to their true home—the Bornean rainforest. Each orangutan we release has a unique story, some more tragic than others. But they all share a common experience: they were once separated from their mothers, rescued, and brought to BOS, where they received a second chance at life.
After years of learning at Forest School and honing the acquired survival skills on pre-release islands, the long-awaited moment for another 11 orangutans had finally arrived. The first six embarked on 22 April 2025, the 27th release operation from our Samboja Lestari Centre. In a collaborative effort, the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, the East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency, and the BOS Foundation successfully released Buigis, Mikhayla, Moris, Sie-Sie, Siti, and Uli into the Kehje Sewen Forest. The Minister of Forestry personally opened Mikhayla’s cage and watched her leap out energetically before swiftly climbing the nearest tree.
The Indonesian Minister of Forestry, Dr Raja Juli Antoni, personally opened Mikhayla’s transport cage.
Jumbo and his friends return home
The second release, the 45th from Nyaru Menteng, happened on 21 and 22 May 2025 and involved five orangutans—Hanau, Jumbo, Pirang, Radmala and Rongda—who found their new home in Central Kalimantan’s Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
The journey to the remote release sites is an adventure in itself, over rough roads and through wild rivers.
While the two events represent a significant milestone in our conservation efforts, BOS Foundation CEO Jamartin Sihite emphasises that there is a long way to go: “While releases continue, the challenges remain immense. More than 350 orangutans are still awaiting their future in BOSF’s rehabilitation centers. Therefore, orangutan protection must be pursued with a spirit of building a just and sustainable Earth for all living beings. Strong collaboration between the government, communities, private sector, and conservation organisations like the BOS Foundation is key to ensuring forests remain safe havens for orangutans and all life that depends on them.”
READ ALSO:
CANDIDATES FOR THE 27th ORANGUTAN RELEASE FROM SAMBOJA LESTARI
A NEW CHAPTER FOR SIX ORANGUTANS
CANDIDATES FOR THE 45TH ORANGUTAN RELEASE FROM NYARU MENTENG
JUMBO’S JOURNEY HOME
Find out more about our orangutans conservation work here.
