JUMBO’S JOURNEY HOME

Jumbo is about to experience his well-deserved freedom in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park as part of the upcoming release from the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre. Before that happens, let’s take a moment to reflect on Jumbo’s rehabilitation journey—from his arrival in 2013 to the final preparations before his release.

In 2013, just two days after the rescue of another orangutan named Cinta, a car pulled up at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre carrying a young male orangutan from Dusun Manggana village, Seruyan District. The villagers had contacted the BOS Foundation after caring for the infant for about a month.

Rescue: Frightening Separation
According to one resident, he had discovered the orangutan while working on his small oil palm plantation. From his hut, he had seen a mother orangutan and her baby separated by some distance. Alarmed, he and his hunting dogs approached them. The frightened mother fled into the forest, leaving her infant behind. The baby’s terrified cries prompted the farmer to take him home.

When the orangutan arrived at Nyaru Menteng, our veterinarian, Dr. Maryos V. Tandang, conducted an initial health check. The infant male, estimated to be about one year old, had no physical injuries but was clearly traumatised. That very day, former President of Indonesia Megawati Soekarno Putri happened to be visiting and graciously named this young orangutan Jumbo.

Nursery and Forest School: Learning the Basics
Jumbo spent his time in quarantine alongside baby Cinta. In the nursery, he began learning the vital skills needed to survive in the wild. His journey toward independence had officially started.

By 2014, Jumbo had advanced to forest school, where he learned to climb, forage, and live among other orangutans. Over the years, he became a sociable individual who displayed minimal interest in humans—a key trait for future release candidates.

Pre-Release: Going Wild on Salat Island
On April 7, 2021, Jumbo progressed to the next rehabilitation stage at Salat Island, a pre-release site. There, he foraged naturally and spent his time high in the canopy, socialising with other orangutans, such as Kasongan. He was healthy, active, and alert, consistently demonstrating the survival behaviours needed in the wild.

Later that year, the BOS team transferred Jumbo to Kaja Island. Over time, he became increasingly wild and elusive, eventually avoiding contact with our monitoring team. This behaviour is typical of orangutans on pre-release islands, where they often explore multiple islets. Months later, Jumbo reappeared at a feeding platform, but his condition had deteriorated. Malnourished, the veterinarians decided to bring him to the Nyaru Menteng Clinic in September 2022 for recovery. There, he received nutritional supplements and enrichment food, slowly regaining his strength.

Return: Final Preparations
In July 2023, Jumbo returned to Kaja Island for the final leg of his pre-release journey. Now, 12 years old, he has mastered all the essential skills required to survive independently in the wild.

Currently, Jumbo waits patiently in a quarantine enclosure at Nyaru Menteng. Soon, he will begin the final chapter of his journey—a journey that will take him to Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park, where he will return to the freedom of the Borneo rainforest.

Stay with us to watch Jumbo’s final journey to his new home soon!

Please learn more about our conservation work here.