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Gito

Male , 7 years old

Adopt Gito today

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Who is it for?

About Gito

In the past five years that Gito has been at our centre in Indonesia, he has been going from strength to strength. With his best friend Asoka at his side, his curiosity and foraging skills drive him further into the forest during Baby School and he quite often returns with black lips due to all the fruit he’s been eating! He is showing brilliant orangutan behavior and his skills bode well for his future in the freedom of the forest.

After what poor Gito had been put through in the first few months of his life, he continues to impress the vets and prove that he is ready and raring for new challenges in Baby School and beyond.

Adopt Gito today to receive regular exclusive updates and join him on his journey back to the wild.

Gito's Story

Baby orangutan Gito was less than five months old when he was rescued from a filthy cardboard box in 2015. He had been dumped out in the sun of West Borneo and left to die by an owner who evidentially did not know what to do with such a sick baby orangutan. Gito was suffering from a highly contagious skin condition which caused his hair to fall out and his skin to become grey and flaky.

The initial fear was that Gito was already dead as he lay lifeless in the urine-soaked cardboard box. Thankfully, a pulse was located and hope returned to the rescue team. During the previous months he had been kept as a pet, Gito had been fed entirely on condensed milk, a diet that had left him severely malnourished and dehydrated. The team had to take emergency action to ensure Gito would survive the night.

Gito reaching out
Gito being cared for at rescue

Round the clock care and determination from the veterinary staff in Indonesia meant that Gito defeated all odds and survived his traumatic ordeal! However, this was only the beginning and this poor baby orangutan had a long road ahead of him. Gito was suffering terribly with sarcoptic mange but already began to show inspiring improvements after just one week of medical treatment. The treatment of his skin allowed him to move more freely, but it would take a long time to fully recover from the debilitating effects of malnutrition and mange.

As time progressed, Gito continued to respond well to treatment and gained his strength back little by little. When he first arrived, he was so weak and dehydrated that his hands and feet were stiff and he was unable to sit up. The veterinary team used physiotherapy to help Gito gain more movement and he was soon able to hang in his hammock without any help!

Under close supervision, Gito was continuing to show signs of improvement and less than two months after his rescue, he was looking healthy and happy. Gito’s strong will and determination meant that he had begun standing, hanging and climbing without any assistance. To the dismay of the staff, Gito was chewing everything in sight as his baby teeth had begun to come through–just as they should! It was time for Gito to move on to Pre-School.

Gito reaching out in the clinic
Gito during rehab

In January 2016, Gito was ready to attend Pre-School for the first time. His journey back to the wild had finally begun! Just before his first day, Gito was introduced to another baby orangutan–Asoka! He was fascinated by her and spent his whole time chewing and licking his new friend. Together, they began Pre-School, a place for the very young orangutans to grow, learn and play without being put off by the slightly larger and more boisterous ones. They joined a group of other babies at a similar stage in their life, including Seponti, Limpang, Jemmi and Jecka.

Gito settled into Pre-School brilliantly and enjoyed his time playing with the other baby orangutans, eating food and enjoying the enriching activities. After his first day of pre-school, Gito was found by the vets snuggled up with Asoka, totally shattered from all of the excitement.

As time progressed, Gito and Asoka remained best friends and could rarely be photographed apart! Gito’s hair was growing back nicely and his skin was returning to a healthy state. He was beginning to become more independent, spending his time climbing and playing up in the trees–slowly becoming less reliant on the babysitters. When Gito was not eating or playing you could be sure to find him with Asoka. It is likely that their bond was so strong due to them both being separated from their mothers at a very young age. They even used each other as a pillow to take midday naps together!

Gito and Asoka meet for the very first time

By May of 2017, it was time for Gito to progress to Baby School. Orangutans moving up to Baby School need to show a willingness to climb unaided by the babysitters, start making their own nests and show signs of foraging for their own food. At this stage in his life, Gito ticked all the boxes! His best friend Asoka also graduated so they could carry on their wonderful friendship into Baby School and beyond. Gito was very enthusiastic and was always the first in the wheelbarrow and the first into the trees.

Gito has always shown great signs of resourcefulness when it comes to food and you can often find him foraging in the trees. His ability to stuff his face with copious amounts of fruit allowed him to grow quickly as well as learn which fruits he can and cannot eat.

Gito at baby school
Gito up in the trees

What you get?

Adopt Gito today and you will receive:

  • A personalised certificate in recognition of your adoption
  • A high quality picture of Gito to frame
  • An animal fact sheet with information on Gito and orangutans as a whole
  • Exclusive news, photos and videos of your adopted animal sent via email and avaliable online
  • A soft plush orangutan toy (optional)
Gito adoption pack