A baby orangutan was repatriated from the island of Bali to Sumatra and brought to the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP)’s Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. The male orangutan estimated two years old and was relocated from Bali on the 17th of December 2019 by BKSDA Bali, accompanied by Jakarta Aid Network (JAAN). The orangutan named Balibon was confiscated from a Russian Smuggler in Ngurah Rai Bali Airport. After the confiscation, Balibon was placed in the Bali Safari for several months and then was finally was returned to Sumatra after the result of DNA test showed Balibon is Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelli).
This young orangutan will be with us for the rehabilitation for around four years until he is resettled in one of our reintroduction stations in Sumatra.
Infant orangutans are very dependent on their mother until 7-8 years old. They learn many skills needed to survive in the wild. They learn how to climb, build nests for sleeping and learn where food resources are found. When orphaned, they should be given good care until they are ready to be released back into the wild.