Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation

Hello, we are the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, or BOSF. Our story began in 1991 in Indonesia. At that time, a serious problem was growing. The rainforests on the island of Borneo, the homes of wild orangutans, were shrinking. As forests disappeared, so did the orangutans’ food and shelter. Many of these gentle animals were left lost, hurt, or without their mothers. Young orangutans depend on their mothers for years to learn how to survive, and without them, they cannot make it alone. Our organization, which includes people like Dr. Willie Smits, was created to help. Our mission is to rescue these animals and give them a second chance to live a full life back in the wild.

When we rescue a young, orphaned orangutan, we bring them to a safe place to heal. We run special rescue centers, like Nyaru Menteng and Samboja Lestari, that are sanctuaries for them. As soon as an orangutan arrives, our veterinarians give them a medical check-up. Many are weak or scared, so this is very important. We provide them with healthy food to help them grow strong. But our care goes beyond medicine. Our team of human caregivers provides constant love and support. For a baby orangutan that has lost its mother, this comfort is essential. We act as their surrogate mothers, which means we step in to do the things their own mothers would have. This includes holding them, comforting them, and teaching them the first lessons of being an orangutan.

Once an orangutan is healthy, their education begins. Our young orangutans attend what we call 'Forest School.' This isn’t a building with desks, but a large, protected area of real forest at our centers. Here, they can practice being wild in a safe environment. Guided by their caregivers, they learn essential lessons for survival. They learn to climb high into the treetops, swinging from branch to branch. This is crucial for finding food and escaping danger. They also learn which jungle fruits and plants are safe to eat. Perhaps the most important skill is learning how to build a nest. Wild orangutans build a new, sturdy nest high in the trees to sleep in every night. Our students practice this until they can do it perfectly. This learning process isn't quick; it takes many years before an orangutan has all the skills to live independently.

All the years of care and training lead to one incredible moment: the day an orangutan is ready to go home. This is the most important day for us and for them. When an orangutan has proven they can find food, build nests, and live confidently, we prepare for their release. The process is carefully planned. We transport them deep into protected areas of the rainforest, where they can live freely without human interference. Our work doesn’t stop there. For many months after their release, our team monitors them from a distance. We watch to make sure they are adapting well, finding food, and staying healthy. Seeing a rehabilitated orangutan thriving in the wild is our greatest achievement. It means we have given them back the life they were meant to live.

While rescuing individual orangutans is vital, we know we must also save their homes. Our work is also about protecting the rainforest itself. We cannot do this alone, so we work with local communities and the government of Indonesia. Together, we protect the areas of rainforest that are still standing, making sure they remain safe havens for wildlife. In places where the forest has been damaged, we work on reforestation projects. This means we plant thousands of new, native trees to help the forest grow back. A healthy forest provides food, shelter, and a future for orangutans. It also supports all the other creatures that live there and is important for the health of our planet.

Today, our work continues every single day. The threats that orangutans face have not gone away. Deforestation still happens, and some people still try to capture young orangutans for the illegal pet trade. Because these dangers exist, our mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and release orangutans is more important than ever. We are dedicated to this cause and work tirelessly to ensure that Bornean orangutans will not disappear. Our goal is for them to always have a safe and healthy home in the rainforests of Indonesia for generations to come.