Three Bornean orangutans released into Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.

YIARI, BKSDA West Kalimantan and the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park Authority released three rehabilitated Bornean orangutans — Badul, Korwas and Asoka — into the Mentatai Resort area of Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park; a joint team will monitor their adaptation.

Three rehabilitated Bornean orangutans were released into Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park in West Kalimantan by the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA West Kalimantan), the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park Authority (BTNBBBR), and Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI). The Mentatai Resort area was chosen for its good forest cover, available natural food and relatively low human pressure. YIARI has worked in partnership with International Animal Rescue for many years on rehabilitation and release programmes. The release follows multi-year rehabilitation to restore wild behaviours needed for survival. Key details: - The three orangutans released are named Badul, Korwas and Asoka; they were entrusted to YIARI by BKSDA West Kalimantan. - Badul arrived at YIARI’s Ketapang centre in November 2017 after being kept in a park enclosure; over eight years he regained skills for long-distance ranging and nest building. - Korwas was confiscated in August 2017 after illegal trade and recovered from skin infection before joining forest school and increasing wild behaviours. - Asoka arrived as an infant in July 2015 after being kept in a local household; over ten years he learned to climb, forage and build nests. - The release team travelled by land and river and trekked into the park, with nearby village residents assisting as cage porters during the operation. - Prior to release each individual underwent routine health examinations, diagnostic tests, body weight monitoring and identity verification by microchip; a joint YIARI-BTNBBBR team will carry out post-release monitoring. Summary: The release returns rehabilitated orangutans to a protected habitat and supports ongoing conservation efforts in Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park, where orangutans contribute as seed dispersers and help maintain forest balance. Post-release monitoring by YIARI and the park authority will focus on foraging, nest-building and the maintenance of wild behaviours to assess how the animals adapt in the new environment.