MERYL IS FREE
We are thrilled to announce that on 10 November 2024, our beloved Meryl finally embraced her freedom in the wild after being released into Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
The spirited female began her new chapter alongside five other orangutans: Bejo, Blegi, Happy, Jengyos and Runtu. Before this moment, Meryl had spent about six months in an enclosure complex getting ready for this significant milestone in her life.
The ten-year-old has come a long way. Argus Fachroni, Veterinarian Coordinator at the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre, recalls that when Meryl arrived on 7 January 2015 curled up in a small local rattan basket, she was extremely frail. “Meryl was severely dehydrated, and there was a visibly swollen wound on her right arm, which turned out to be a fracture”.
When Meryl arrived, she was extremely weak and curled up in a small local rattan basket.
As her health improved and the years passed, she blossomed into the most beautiful and agile orangutan at Forest School. She graduated with flying colours and advanced to the pre-release stage in 2021.
Meryl’s heartwarming rehabilitation journey has now come to an end. When her transport cage opened, she eagerly climbed the first tree she could find, as if she couldn’t wait to explore her new home. Our Post-Release Monitoring team will closely monitor Meryl from a distance over the coming months to ensure she adapts well to her new environment.
While there is a bittersweet feeling in saying goodbye, Argus Fachroni expresses hope that “she will navigate the forest with the grace and confidence of a wild orangutan and become a vibrant, reproductive member of the forest community where she belongs.”
Farewell, dear Meryl! May your new home be filled with boundless freedom and joy.
Photos: ©BOSF
