The orangutans were released at the Arsari Orangutan Sanctuary on Kelawasan Island in North Penajam Paser district, marking the end of their years in illegal captivity.
S. Indrawati Djojohadikusumo, deputy chair of the Yayasan Arsari Djojohadikusumo (YAD) foundation, said on Tuesday that both orangutans had been kept illegally by residents.
“But after a persuasive approach, the owners agreed to hand them over to the West Java BBKSDA and the West Kalimantan BKSDA,” she added, referring to the conservation agencies.
Mungky, a 24-year-old male, was rescued from illegal captivity in West Kalimantan by the BKSDA in 2014. After his confiscation, he spent 11 years at the Sintang Orangutan Center (SOC) undergoing rehabilitation.
His long journey home began on May 22, 2025, from the Jerora Forest School in Sintang.
The relocation team traveled eight hours overland to Supadio Airport, then flew to Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, and on to Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, before finally reaching the Arsari Orangutan Sanctuary.
Dodo, a 29-year-old male, was rescued in May 2008 by the West Java BBKSDA and the Cikananga Wildlife Rescue Center (PPS Cikananga) after being found in illegal captivity in Bogor.
For 17 years, Dodo was cared for at PPS Cikananga. Although medically healthy, his survival instincts were severely underdeveloped after a lifetime in captivity. The hope is that life on the sanctuary island in East Kalimantan will give him the chance to thrive.
“Dodo’s translocation took place two months after Mungky’s,” Indrawati said. “The relocation team departed from PPS Cikananga in Sukabumi for Soekarno-Hatta Airport on the night of July 15, 2025.”
The next morning, Dodo continued by air, landing in Balikpapan before being transported to the sanctuary.
The entire relocation process for Dodo was logistically supported by delivery company KirimAja, which provided ground transportation and flights as part of its commitment to government conservation programs, Indrawati noted.
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Translator: M. Ghofar, Anton Santoso
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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