The joint team from the Bontang Natural Resource Conservation Agency(BKSDA), East Kalimantan,and the staff from Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre at Samboja Lestari recently rescued a pair of mother-infant orangutan. A 20 year-old female orangutan and her daughter who was just 2 years old were found around village area in poor conditions.

The Samboja Lestari Medical Team immediately conducted an initial health, and they confirmed that the mother only weighed around 25 kg, very underweight, since the normal range of an adult orangutan weight is above 40kg. The team also found wounds due to sharp objects on the head and forefinger of the right hand,and she also suffered the loss of one finger on her right hand.

Even more surprising,when the medical team conducted further examinations, they found five bullets were lodged in the mothers body, one in her chin, chest, armpits and also in both legs. Our team suspects the bullets were caused by orangutan conflict with humans when they ventured close to a village in search of food and shelter.

Luckily, her daughter, was in a healthy condition. Even though she still cried a lot and was a afraid of the presence of humans, her health condition was quite stable. The medical team also found that the mother was experiencing severe dehydration, anaemia, and low blood sugar levels, making her very weak.  They were rescued just in time.

Because of her poor condition, the mother and baby could not be immediately released back into the wild and will need to be cared for a while longer at Samboja Lestari, until they are both recovered and well.   The two are currently undergoing intensive care and are being continuously monitored by the BOS Foundation medical team.

The pair were named Jubaedah and Jubaedi.  Let’s help them to recover and get their freedom in the wild!

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