Rescued from traffickers, reintroduced orangutan becomes mother in the wild
Seven years after being returned to the forests of northern Sumatra from a rehabilitation facility, a female orangutan rescued from traffickers has been found nurturing a baby in the wild, giving new encouragement that reintroduced apes can establish breeding populations. “From victim of illegal wildlife trafficking to a mother in the wild, Bulan’s journey demonstrates […]
Seven years after being rescued from traffickers and returned to the forests of northern Sumatra, a female orangutan named Bulan has been observed nurturing a baby in the wild, offering hope that reintroduced apes can establish breeding populations. Conservationist M. Yakob Ishadamy of the Lestari Ecosystem Foundation, which manages the Jantho reservation in partnership with Indonesia's forestry ministry, praised Bulan's journey as evidence of the long-term value of orangutan rehabilitation and reintroduction.
Fieldworkers confirmed the birth of a male infant, named Badar, after seeing Bulan cradling the young ape in the forest canopy on May 22. The mother's name, Bulan, also means "moon" in Indonesian. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antony hailed the birth as proof that consistent habitat protection can restore populations of endangered species, adding that Badar can thrive in the wild and bring new hope for the sustainability of the forest ecosystem.
Meanwhile, Diana, another orangutan, is set to begin her independent life at the Jantho Nature Reserve alongside 103 other orangutans. The Jantho Orangutan Release Area, established in 2011, serves as a reintroduction site within the Jantho Nature Reserve in Aceh province on the northern tip of Sumatra.
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