A landmark conservation effort has given Popi, a female orangutan rescued as an infant, a second chance at life in the wild. After nearly nine years of rehabilitation, Popi was released on August 10, 2025, into the Busang Ecosystem of East Borneo, marking a major milestone in orangutan conservation.
From Orphaned Infant to Wild Orangutan
Popi’s journey began in September 2016, when she was confiscated from a household in Sempayau village, near a palm oil plantation, where she had been kept illegally as a pet. Just eight weeks old, she arrived in the care of the Borneo Orangutan Rescue Alliance (BORA)—fragile, fully dependent, and without the survival skills she would have learned from her mother.
In the wild, orangutans spend up to eight years with their mothers, nursing and mastering skills like climbing, nest building, and foraging. To compensate, BORA’s staff acted as surrogate mothers, teaching Popi these vital behaviors and nurturing her back to health.
Jungle School and Preparation for Release
Over the years, Popi thrived in Jungle School, where she learned to forage, build nests, and navigate the forest canopy with confidence. She also formed close bonds with other rescued orangutans, an important part of her emotional and social development.
In May 2025, she moved to a pre-release forested island, where she refined her independence and survival skills. When the time came, Popi was transported by road and river to the Busang rainforest, where she leapt into the trees upon release—an encouraging sign of her readiness.
Reunited With Old Friends
In a touching twist, Popi was reunited with Mary and Bonti, two female orangutans released earlier this year, whom she had known since Jungle School. Their joyful recognition highlighted the deep social bonds that shape orangutan life and recovery.
“Popi’s return to the wild is a powerful reminder of what is possible when we work together to protect and restore orangutan populations,” said Leif Cocks, Founder of the Orangutan Project. “Each successful release is not just a triumph for the individual, but also a critical step in ensuring the survival of the species.”
A Collaborative Conservation Success
Popi’s release was made possible through a partnership between BORA, the Orangutan Project, the Center of Orangutan Protection, and the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. Monitoring teams will continue to track her progress in the wild, ensuring her long-term adaptation and success.
Her story reflects the broader crisis facing Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, whose populations are threatened by deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, and habitat loss due to palm oil plantations. Yet it also proves that with dedication, collaboration, and community support, rescue and rewilding efforts can restore hope for these critically endangered great apes.