SPOTLIGHT ON: JAMARTIN SIHITE
In this exclusive interview, we speak with Dr Jamartin Sihite, the CEO of the BOS Foundation, following our latest release of seven orangutans into the wild, including repatriated orangutan Kapuan.
What makes a release to the wild like this one so special?
Each orangutan release represents far more than a milestone for
our team. It reflects the long and complex journey behind every individual’s recovery. Kapuan’s story illustrated this deeply. She was repatriated from Thailand after being forced to perform in a circus and has spent nearly nineteen years relearning the skills needed to survive independently. Seeing her return to a protected forest is not only moving; it demonstrates that long–term rehabilitation, when done properly, can rewrite even the most difficult histories.
Kapuan is one of 48 repatriated orangutans from Thailand who had been forced to perform for tourists. How difficult is it to repatriate an orangutan?
Repatriation is extremely complex. It requires a formal government–to–government process under CITES regulations, supported by cross–border coordination, extensive health and quarantine protocols, and long–term resources for rehabilitation. Individuals who have endured human exploitation often face deep behavioural and medical challenges, and not all can be returned to the forest. Kapuan’s release, therefore, represents more than personal success. It demonstrates what is possible when governments, conservation institutions, and dedicated partners work together over many years. Her journey is a reminder of resilience, hope, and the remarkable capacity of orangutans to recover when given the chance.
Why does it take so much longer to rehabilitate a repatriated orangutan like Kapuan?
Orangutans taken at a very young age and trained for performance lose crucial natural behaviours. When the 48 repatriated individuals arrived, many walked bipedally, avoided climbing, and lacked the motor coordination needed for life in the canopy. Years of human contact also increase their susceptibility to zoonotic diseases, while chronic stress affects cognitive development and confidence in natural environments. Rehabilitation must therefore rebuild both physical capabilities and instinctual behaviours. Kapuan is the fourteenth individual from the group who has successfully regained these capacities and returned to her natural habitat.
What does it take to achieve a successful release like this one?
A release of this scale is only possible through coordinated effort: government agencies, conservation organisations, scientific partners, private–sector supporters, and the public all play an essential role. Kapuan’s release underscores that conservation is a collective responsibility. Long–term habitat protection, rigorous rehabilitation, and post–release monitoring all require collaboration. Kapuan reminds us that with the right support, even individuals who begin life in severe adversity can thrive again in the wild.
How can our readers support your efforts to help victims of the illegal wildlife trade?
Illegal wildlife trade remains one of the greatest threats to orangutan survival. Infants are taken from the wild after their mothers are killed, disrupting family groups and undermining forest regeneration, as orangutans are keystone species that disperse seeds across large distances. At the BOS Foundation, we rescue, rehabilitate, and release orangutans while also restoring and protecting their habitats.
This mission is vital but cannot be achieved in isolation. By donating through our official partner, BOS Australia, readers can directly support medical care, behavioural training, forest school activities, and long–term habitat protection. All essential steps that allow orangutans like Kapuan to return to where they truly belong.
Please support our rehabilitation efforts to give orangutans like Kapuan a second chance at life.
