Young Orangutans Adjust Well to Life in Freedom
Environmental Article from All-Creatures.org

From Four Paws
August 2013

Destructive monocultures, which are meant to satisfy the high demand for palm oil in the production of chocolate bars, frozen pizza and cosmetics, have already caused irreparable damage to the ecosystem. After a rainforest area in East Kalimantan was turned into a protected zone last year, a new opportunity arose to allow the young apes of Samboja return home.

Four months ago, a group of orangutans raised at our rehabilitation center in Samboja, Indonesia, was released into the wild. Many FOUR PAWS team members who had cared for the young foundlings had been looking forward to this first ever event for a very long time. Extensive preparation work preceded the release, as most of the natural forest in Indonesian Borneo isn't safe.

Destructive monocultures, which are meant to satisfy the high demand for palm oil in the production of chocolate bars, frozen pizza and cosmetics, have already caused irreparable damage to the ecosystem. After a rainforest area in East Kalimantan was turned into a protected zone last year, a new opportunity arose to allow the young apes of Samboja return home.

Human surrogate mothers had raised them at the FOUR PAWS orphanage, teaching them everything they need to know to survive in the wild, little by little. Most of their real mothers had been killed by poachers or hunters who’d beenpaid off by the palm oil industry. Now, for the entire period of their release, a team of wildlife experts is monitoring the young animals, both on site and via GPS transmitters. Three of the six, Casey, Berlian and Lessan, have remained in the vicinity of their release site. Their confidence is growing with each day, but they tread carefully as they try to use the lessons learned at the orphanage in their new lives.

The three remaining apes are clearly more adventurous, but one, Mail, still looks for human contact. He goes off on long excursions, often for days, but always comes back to the area where he was released. The FOUR PAWS ape specialists are analyzing this behavior, hoping to find out whether Mail is simply missing human company or whether he has developed a strong social responsibility, checking on the group that opted to stay near the release site. Better food resources could play a part in this behavior too.

Abbie and Hamzah are the two who have baffled every orangutan expert involved. The observation plan took it as a given that the apes wouldn't cross the wide and mighty river that cuts through the Borneo rainforest. Yet according to the GPS data, Abbie and Hamzah, have wondered off beyond this seemingly uncrossable boundary, driven by an incredibly strong sense of exploration. While keeping track of their location, the team is now wondering how they did it: either scientist had underestimated orangutan abilities in general, or the adventurous two lost their fear of water at the FOUR PAWS rehabilitation center. Luckily, all of the six apes have eaten well during the fruiting season, which will help them through harder times to come. For the time being, the release of the six young orangutans is a huge success in the effort to fight for the future of these remarkable primates.

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