Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation

Hello! We are the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, but you can call us the BOS Foundation for short. We began our work in 1991 on the big, beautiful island of Borneo in a country called Indonesia. Our mission is to help and protect some of the most amazing animals in the world: orangutans. Orangutans are a type of great ape, and they have long, shaggy, reddish-brown hair and gentle faces. They spend almost their whole lives swinging through the tall trees of the rainforest. But there is a problem. The rainforests where they live are in danger because many trees are being cut down. That’s why we are here to help them.

Our most important job starts with a rescue. Sometimes, a baby orangutan loses its mother and can’t survive on its own. Other times, an orangutan’s home is completely cleared, leaving it with no food and nowhere to go. When we find an orangutan in trouble, our rescue team carefully brings it to one of our special centers. These centers are safe places where they can get everything they need. Our veterinarians, who are like animal doctors, check to make sure they are healthy. We give them yummy, nutritious food and lots of gentle care so they can feel safe and strong again.

After an orangutan is safe and healthy, its education begins! We have something very special called 'forest school.' It’s a lot like the school you go to, but instead of learning math and reading, our students learn how to be wild orangutans. Our dedicated animal caretakers act as their teachers. They show the young orangutans how to climb high up into the treetops, using their long arms to swing from branch to branch. They teach them which fruits are delicious and safe to eat. One of the most important lessons is how to build a cozy nest out of leaves and branches every single night for a good sleep.

Learning all of these skills takes a long time, but it is very important. When an orangutan has grown strong and has learned everything it needs to know to live on its own, it’s ready to graduate. Our biggest and happiest goal is to return every orangutan back to the wild where it belongs. We carefully choose a protected rainforest that is safe from danger. Then, we transport the orangutan to its new home and open the door to freedom. Seeing an orangutan climb into the trees and begin its new life in the jungle is the best reward for all our hard work.

Today, we are still working hard every day to rescue, care for, and release orangutans. But we also do more. We know that the best way to help orangutans is to protect their home. That’s why we also work to protect the rainforests. We plant thousands of new trees to help the forest grow back strong. We also work with the people who live in villages near the forest. We help them find ways to live peacefully alongside the wildlife, making sure that both people and orangutans have a safe and healthy place to live for many years to come.