In the heart of Indonesia, a non-profit organization called the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation is working tirelessly to prepare displaced baby orangutans for their eventual return to the wild. These adorable primates have lost their forest homes and need to learn crucial survival skills before they can be released back into their natural habitat.
The dedicated keepers at BOS Foundation understand the importance of teaching these orangutans how to fend for themselves in the wild. To do this, they use a clever method – they act out the movements and behaviors themselves! From identifying dangerous snakes to climbing trees, building nests, and foraging for food, the keepers show the orangutans exactly how it’s done.
Nicola Walpen, the Campaign Officer for BOS Foundation, explains the process. The youngest orangutans join the Nursery Group, while the older ones attend Forest School, where they are taught the skills they will need to survive in the wild. They learn everything from accessing natural food sources to building secure nests for themselves.
At the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Borneo, the baby orangutans undergo intensive training. This includes learning how to climb trees, swing from branches, and build nests high up for resting and sleeping. The staff also teaches them how to find food, such as eating invertebrates from trees and retrieving the edible inner pith from plants.
One important aspect of their education is snake awareness. Orangutans need to know how to deal with dangerous snakes they may encounter in the wild. The rehabilitation process ensures that these primates can keep themselves safe from predators, identify food sources, and freely navigate the forest.
Once the orangutans become proficient in all necessary survival skills, they are moved to a socialization complex, where they learn to interact with other orangutans. This is the final step before their release into a pre-release island, where they have to prove their capabilities as foragers, climbers, and nest-builders. The BOS Foundation closely monitors them in their new environment to collect valuable data about their adjustment to life in the wild.
Founded in 1991, the BOS Foundation has been at the forefront of orangutan conservation. They strive to save these incredible creatures from the illegal wildlife trade and return them to their natural habitat. The foundation gained international attention in 2017 when they rescued an albino orangutan named Alba who had been kept as a pet.
Nicola emphasizes the importance of immediate action to protect orangutans and their rainforest homes. Orangutan conservation is not just a local issue; it is a global concern. The loss of orangutans threatens the very existence of our forests and the biodiversity they support.
In conclusion, by supporting organizations like BOS Foundation and taking action against deforestation, we can protect orangutans and their habitats. Together, we can make a difference for orangutans and the future generations to come.
