Profauna Says Goodbye To Four Orangutans
After the successful release of 17 green peafowls (Pavo muticus) to the National Park of Bromo Tengger Semeru in East - Java, Indonesia on June 4, 2008 (http://www.profauna.org/content/en/pressrelease/2008/
freedom_for_17_confiscated_green_peafowls.html ), ProFauna recently relocated four orangutans from its rescue center to the Nyaru Menteng rehabilitation and reintroduction center in Central Kalimantan on June 13, 2008.
Thanks to ProFauna's campaigns, that convinced the former owners that these orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) belonged to the wild and should not be kept as pets, Unyil (7, m); Jackson (5, f); Bonny (6, m); and Nonik (15, f) were voluntarily handed over to ProFauna's rescue center (in Malang, East Java – Indonesia) where they lived at center for three years, two years, 17 months, and 11 months respectively.
ProFauna's rescue center includes an integrated environmental and social and behavioral enrichment programs incorporating: foraging and feeding, toys and non-food related objects, perches and swings, and many other features that encourage the animals' natural wild activity levels before they are released back into the wild, in Kalimantan (Borneo) .
Despite being ready for relocation to Nyaru Menteng orangutan rehabilitation and reintroduction center in Central Kalimantan established by the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS), the orangutans had to wait for several months because this facility was fully occupied. And it was not until last month, that the orangutans finally had the chance to be relocated. On June 13, 2008, with the transportation cages provided by BOS, the orangutans were moved from ProFauna wildlife rescue center to the Nyaru Menteng orangutan rehabilitation and reintroduction center.
The relocation process complied with all the relevant documentation including a health confirmation letter issued by the Farm and Animal Health Department, an Animal Health certificate issued by the Animal Quarantine center, and the Domestic transportation of Wild Plant and Animal letter issued by the Natural Resources Conservation Center of East Java Government.
There is no doubt that all the staff at ProFauna's rescue center will miss Unyil, Jackson, Bonny, and Nonik. But getting them back to their natural home in Kalimantan forest was the first and most important priority.
- For further information, please contact Butet A. Sitohang, International Communication Officer, mobile: +6281333899741 or email: international@profauna.org
- ProFauna Indonesia ( www.profauna.org ) is a wildlife protection organization in Indonesia, established in 1994.