TEMON & LAHEI BREAK THE JUNGLE RULES
Do you remember the story of Temon and Lahei, the duo who once disappeared from Forest School? These little adventurers have now returned with another astonishing chapter—and have broken a longstanding record.
Unlike most of their peers, Temon and Lahei completed their Forest School lessons much faster than expected and advanced to the pre-release stage long before other orangutans their age.
Too Young, Too Ready
Most orangutans enter the pre-release stage, which is the final step before returning to the wild, typically between the ages of eight and ten. By this age, they are considered ready, equipped with the survival skills necessary to live and thrive in their natural habitat. Some orangutans may take even longer to reach this crucial point in their lives.
However, Temon and Lahei were not willing to wait. At just five and six years old, they amazed their surrogate mothers and our animal welfare team. They prove that readiness and independence are not measured by age, but by instinct, courage, and the natural brilliance they carry within.
Loyal Companions
Temon, rescued in mid-2022, immediately showed she was born for the forest. Her tiny fingers grasped branches with confidence, her nose twitched at the scent of ripe fruit, and her ears stayed alert to the sounds around her. Even during quarantine, she was already building cozy, sturdy nests. Fiercely independent, she would still seek a warm cuddle from her surrogate mothers before vanishing into the canopy once again.
When Temon arrived at our centre in 2022, she immediately showcased her impressive skills.
A few months later, Lahei arrived, weighing just 4.45 kilograms. From the very start, he bonded closely with Temon, and the two became inseparable. In the Nursery Group, they grew, learned, and played side by side by leaping through the trees like twin sparks of energy that never faded.
Ten Days Missing
Their inseparable adventures soon led to a startling twist: one day, Temon and Lahei vanished. For ten long days, their surrogate mothers and technicians searched anxiously, fearing for their safety. After all, they were still so young, new to the forest, and unaccustomed to the threats of the wild. But those fears turned out to be unfounded. When they finally found the pair, they were healthy, calm, and seemingly untroubled, though a little scruffy and cautious. For ten days, they had been embraced by the forest itself.
A New Chapter on Kaja Island
That disappearance became a turning point in their rehabilitation journey. Temon and Lahei weren’t just maturing faster than expected. They were redefining what it meant to be “ready.” In July 2025, the BOS team officially transferred them from Forest School to the pre-release stage on Kaja Island.
Lahei made the trip without sedation, while the veterinarians briefly anesthetized Temon to receive a three-year contraceptive implant. Once released, both wasted no time climbing high into the canopy. Observers even spotted them sharing fruit with Fanny, another island resident, before slipping back into the treetops.
By the end of July, Temon and Lahei had naturally gone their separate ways, settling into different parts of the island. Yet both adapted beautifully, building nests, foraging on their own, and exploring their new home with curiosity and confidence.
More Than Skills
Temon and Lahei have shown sharp skills, an unbreakable bond, and remarkable courage. As they step deeper into the pre-release stage, they carry more than survival skills. They embody freedom, instinct, and the spirit of the wild.
They remind us all that readiness isn’t defined by years, but by natural ability and the powerful will to live free.
Thanks to the support of caring individuals like you, young orangutans such as Temon and Lahei now have a wonderful opportunity to reclaim their future in the wild.
Way to go, Temon and Lahei!
