Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Release Candidate Profiles | August 16-17, 2013

Arun

Arun was only 3 years old when he was confiscated from a resident of Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan on December 21, 2002. A rescue team from the BOS Foundation and the Central Kalimantan Conservation and Natural Resources Authority delivered this orangutan to Nyaru Menteng to receive proper treatment and rehabilitation.

After 10 years in Nyaru Menteng, Arun is now 13 years old and weighs 55 kg. His cheekpads have started grow. He is handsome and active and his behaviour indicates his potential to become a dominant male.

After 10 years in Nyaru Menteng, Arun is now a strong and active orangutan

After 10 years in Nyaru Menteng, Arun is now a strong and active orangutan

Lulu

Lulu is a female orangutan who was sent back to Central Kalimantan after being confiscated from her keeper in Jakarta. She arrived at Nyaru Menteng on June 12 2002 in healthy condition and was estimated to be 4 – 4,5 years old, weighing 17 kg.

Lulu is now 15 years old, weighing 37 kg. On Bangamat Island, one of Nyaru Menteng’s pre-release islands, she loves to explore and prefers to be alone. Lulu once ran away and crossed a shallow part of the riverusing a floating log. After an eight-daysearch, Lulu was finally found.

Now 15 years old and weighs 37 kg, Lulu will soon be going back home to her natural habitat.

Now 15 years old and weighs 37 kg, Lulu will soon be going back home to her natural habitat.

Ubai

June 12 2002, Ubai was also confiscated from a resident in Jakarta who was suspected to have acquired her from an illegal pet market. She was then transferred to Nyaru Menteng. She was approxi­mately 4 – 4,5 years old and weighed 17 kg.

Now at 15 years old, weighing 45.5 kg, Ubai is a tomboy who looks like a male with her long beard, dark facial skin and tough expression. At first glance, she appears to be quiet but she is actually a dominant female on Kaja Island, the pre-release island where she lived.

Now after 10 years living in Nyaru Menteng, Ubai currently is undergoing quarantine as a release candidate.

Now after 10 years living in Nyaru Menteng, Ubai currently is undergoing quarantine as a release candidate.

Bonet

Bonet was estimated to be only 2,5 – 3 years old when he was confiscated from a resident of Pontianak, West Kalimantan. He was then transferred to Nyaru Menteng on May 21 2002.

Bonet who is now 13 years old and weighs 46.6 kg really loves exploring. The handsome orangutan with slightly slanted eyes and light brown hair has also started trying to catch female orangutans’ attention on Kaja Island.

Soon, Bonet will enjoy his new home in the lush canopy of Bukit Batikap.

Soon, Bonet will enjoy his new home in the lush canopy of Bukit Batikap.

Mama Mozzy and Myzo

Lone Drøscher Nielsen received a call from a local zoo in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, that a female orangutan and her infant of Central Kalimantan origin, Mama Mozzy and Mozzy, needed immediate intensive care. With the West Kalimantan Conservation and Natural Resources Authority, Lone took them to Nyaru Menteng. Unfortunately little Mozzy passed away two months later due to a heart defect.

Fortunately, on April 3, 2010 Mama Mozzy was blessed with another baby, born on the pre-release island of Kaja. The female orangutan baby was named Myzo. Myzo is now 2 years old.

Now 22 years old and weighs 33,7 kg, Mama Mozzy is an active and dominant orangutan compared to other females. The orangutan with a bump on her forehead also loves to explore. In dry season she was often seen strolling along the sandy riverbank. Mama Mozzy loves her daughter Myzo very dearly. She hugs her tightly to protect her when she feels threatened.

During her time in Kaja Island, Mama Mozzy is an active and dominant orangutan compared to other females

During her time in Kaja Island, Mama Mozzy is an active and dominant orangutan compared to other females

On April 3 2012, Mama Mozzy was blessed with another baby in pre-release island of Kaja. The male orangutan baby was named Myzo.

On April 3 2012, Mama Mozzy was blessed with another baby in pre-release island of Kaja. The male orangutan baby was named Myzo.

Bule

Confiscated from a villager in Petak Bahandang, Katingan Regency, on December 1, 2002, a young male orangutan of approximately 6 – 6,5 years old arrived at Nyaru Menteng. He was named “Bule”, which means foreigner or person from overseas, for his light-coloured hair.

Bule is now 17 years old, weighing 73 kg. As he grew older, Bule’s hair turned dark brown, long, and thick making him a very handsome young man. Despite his adorable always-curious expression, Bule is a dominant adult male orangutan.

Now at the age of 17, weighing 73 kg, Bule will finally return to his new home in the forest of Bukit Batikap.

Now at the age of 17, weighing 73 kg, Bule will finally return to his new home in the forest of Bukit Batikap.

Max

A male orangutan named Max was estimated to be 3 – 3,5 years old. He was sent from Jakarta to Central Kalimantan to be rehabilitated in Nyaru Menteng where he joined the Forest School to learn his forest skills.

Now Max is 15 years old and weighs 55,6 kg. His handsome face is framed with thin brownish red hair on his temple, beard and growing cheekpads. He an active teenager who no longer likes being approached by humans.

After 12 years living in the rehabilitation center, Max has grown into an active teenage male orangutan.

After 12 years living in the rehabilitation center, Max has grown into an active teenage male orangutan.

Uban

A male orangutan was confiscated in Palangka Raya by the Central Kalimantan Conservation and Natural Resources Authority and sent to Nyaru Menteng. Uban, the orangutan, was estimated to be 3 – 3,5 years of age and weighed 10.5 kg.

At 16 years old, Uban is a big adult male orangutan weighing a staggering 83 kg. Uban is dominant, active and prefers to be alone. With growing cheekpads, he is dashingly handsome.

Now 16 years old, Uban has grown into a big adult male orangutan.

Now 16 years old, Uban has grown into a big adult male orangutan.

Tehang

Tehang is a female orangutan who was confiscated from the community in Tehang village, Katingan Regency on May 9, 2003. When she arrived at Nyaru Menteng, she was only 4 – 4,5 years old.

14 year-old Tehang is now a charming orangutan with an oval face, black skin and thick red brownish hair. She is independent and great explorer.

Since living in Kaja Island, Tehang has shown her independency.

Since living in Kaja Island, Tehang has shown her independency.

Matilda and Georgina

Matilda was confiscated from Palangka Raya at 3.5 – 4 years old, weighing 12 kg.

On March 22, 2007 Matilda delivered her first daughter, named Astria. Matilda’s second daughter was born on January 19, 2012 and named Georgina.

Matilda has brownish red hair and she is very active. She loves to explore and is so sociable. No wonder many male orangutans are attracted to her. Matilda’s tiny female baby Georgina of course is still always in her arms.

Soon, Matilda and her daughters will be back at their true home in Bukit Batikap.

Soon, Matilda and her daughters will be back at their true home in Bukit Batikap.

Astria

Little Astria is an agile orangutan. With the skills she learns from her own mother, Matilda, she never hesitates to explore the forest all by herself. No wonder Astria looks like any other wild orangutan.

Now at 5 years old weighing 6,7 kg, the elegant female with brownish red hair is an active orangutan and doesn’t like being approached by humans. Despite her young age, her knowledge and skills such as nest-building are sufficient to live in a real forest.

Learns from her own mother, Astria never hesitates to explore the forest all by herself.

Learns from her own mother, Astria never hesitates to explore the forest all by herself.

Mita

When Mita was confiscated from a resident of Palangka Raya, she was only around 3,5 – 4 years old and weighed 12 kg.

Now at 17 years old weighing 28,9 kg, Mita has grown into an elegant and active female orangutan who loves to explore and is friendly towards other orangutans.

Now 17 years old and weighs 28.9 kg, Mita has grown into an elegant female orangutan, active and loves to explore.

Now 17 years old and weighs 28.9 kg, Mita has grown into an elegant female orangutan, active and loves to explore.

Mongki

Also confiscated from a Palangka Raya resident, Mongki was only 4 – 4,5 years old and weighed 17,5 kg, he then joined his peers in the Forest School.

After he graduated from the Forest School, Mongki was moved to Palas Island. This sturdy male is now an active and dominant orangutan. At 16 years old and 39,8 kg, his cheekpads have started to grow, framing his handsome face.

Soon valiantly Mongki will return home to the lush forest of Bukit Batikap.

Soon valiantly Mongki will return home to the lush forest of Bukit Batikap.

Lona and Nielsen

Confiscated in Jakarta, this female orangutan arrived in Nyaru Menteng at the age of 6 – 6,5 years old and weighed 18 kg. Nyaru Menteng’s founder, Lone Drøscher Nielsen named this beautiful orangutan with thick dark brown hair, Lona. Living on Kaja Island since 2004, Lona socializes easily with other orangutans and loves to explore.

On November 4, 2005, after one year on Kaja Island, Lona gave birth to a female baby named Nielsen, whom she loves and protects with all her heart.

Lona is now 18 years old and weighs 35 kg. She is ready to return to her true home in Bukit Batikap Conservation Forest.
Nielsen is now 7 years old and weighs 18,1 kg. Nielsen is a very active orangutan and does not like to be around humans. She has long and bright brown hair. Entering her teenage years, Nielsen is also ready to join her mother and her friends in Bukit Batikap Conservation Forest.

After one year on Kaja Island, Lona gave birth to a female baby named Nielsen.

After one year on Kaja Island, Lona gave birth to a female baby named Nielsen.

Nielsen is a very active young orangutan and does not like humans to be around her.

Nielsen is a very active young orangutan and does not like humans to be around her.

Monmon

Confiscated from a resident of Jakarta, Monmon was 4,5 – 5 years weighing 19 kg when she arrived at Nyaru Menteng. After finishing her study at Forest School, Monmon was placed on Bangamat Island, and later moved to Kaja Island.

Monmon is now 13 years old and weighs 30.3 kg. The beautiful orangutan is ready to go home to the forest.

Prepared with her skills, Monmon is ready to go home to Bukit Batikap forest.

Prepared with her skills, Monmon is ready to go home to Bukit Batikap forest.

3 thoughts on “Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Release Candidate Profiles | August 16-17, 2013

  1. I too recognized Bule,by name only, & hope it is the same one. I hope over time we will see more of the orangutans we got to know on Orangatan Island be released home to the forest.

  2. Yes, Cody & Coleen, bule was a star of the Orangutan Island. He and Alibaba are two of our movie stars who have been released. We, too, hope all of the “celebrities” will be released as soon as possible. 🙂

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