A future for the orangutans of Borneo

Orangutan translates from Malay as man of the forest (“orang” meaning person and “utan” meaning forest). Sharing 97% of our DNA, these shaggy forest dwellers are among our closest living relatives. Yet hunting, poaching, and the destruction of their habitat have pushed them to the brink of extinction. The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) is dedicated to secure the long-term survival of this charismatic species on Borneo. To achieve this, BOS works across all levels to protect both the animals and their habitat. The organisation cares for individuals that have been harmed and held captive by humans, prepares them through an extensive rehabilitation process for a life in the wild, protects tropical rainforest, and actively restores and reforests degraded land.

Together with our project partner BOS, we are committed to protecting orangutans and their habitats on Borneo.

Why do we want to save orangutans?

The island of Borneo is home to the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), which is listed critically endangered by the IUCN. Due to the dramatic destruction of the rainforest, the species is now found only in isolated, fragmented forest remnants across the island.

Alongside coal, tropical timber, paper, and pulp, the cultivation and trade of palm oil is a primary driver behind the destruction of the orangutan’s habitat. As humans increasingly encroach upon the animals’ territory, human-wildlife conflicts are becoming ever more frequent – and often prove fatal for the animals. In addition, a thriving illegal wildlife trade specifically targets orangutan babies for the exotic pet market.

As a result, the population of the world’s largest tree-dwelling animals has been decimated by 80% in just 50 years. Climate change is compounding these pressures, pushing tropical rainforests and the orang-utan’s habitat to their limits.

As a keystone species, orangutans are indispensable to the rainforest.

Our partner organisation

The German organisation Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) supports the foundation on Borneo and its holistic, scientifically grounded approach to halting these negative developments and protecting orangutans on Borneo for the long term.

The organisation’s central task is the rescue of injured or orphaned animals. Some were found abandoned on palm oil plantations, near villages, or in coal mines; others were seized from the illegal wildlife trade. Upon arriving at one of the two BOS rescue centres, each animal begins a rehabilitation process lasting several years – after all, young orangutans remain with their mothers for up to eight years. They are prepared for a life in the wild by human surrogate mothers and animal caretakers. At the end of this journey comes the pivotal moment: release back into their home – the rainforests of Borneo.

Once the animals prove ready for the wild, they are released into rainforest areas specially selected and secured by BOS. More than 550 animals have already been returned to freedom in this way, strengthening wild populations. As protected rainforest on Borneo continues to shrink, BOS is actively working to protect the rainforest and carries out large-scale reforestation. As a keystone species, orangutans are indispensable to the rainforest.

A thriving population guarantees a healthy forest, as the animals actively contribute to its survival by dispersing seeds. Not only does this benefit countless plant and animal species, but ultimately the global climate as well. With the orangutan as a flagship species, the BOS Foundation pursues a holistic approach to rainforest conservation – for animals, plants, and people alike.

Milestones

2025 – Release of Kapuan

Our founder Hannah Emde has the privilege of accompanying the orangutan female Kapuan along two other individuals on their journey back into the wild. Kapuan had been brought to Thailand through illegal wildlife trade, where she was forced to perform in a tourist animal show. Her journey home began with the transfer to the BOS rescue station on Borneo, where she learnt everything she would need to survive in the rainforest. The BOS team on Borneo accompanied her through each stage of her near 20 year long rehabilitation process until her momentous day arrived.

A detailed report, including an emotional first-hand impression on scene following her release into the wild, can be found here (German only).

2025 – On the Ground

Nepada Wildlife visits the BOS rescue station Nyaru Menteng in Indonesia as well as a protected area in the heart of Borneo, to gain a first-hand impression of the work being carried out on the ground.

Next steps

As the protection of endangered species and the preservation of their habitats is a cause close to our hearts at Nepada Wildlife, we are delighted to join forces with BOS to strengthen the conservation of orangutans and the rainforests of Borneo in a sustainable and effective way.

We support the release of further orangutans and the ongoing work of BOS through donations.