Critically endangered

Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation

Saving Borneo's critically endangered orangutans.

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Project Summary

In the rainforests of Borneo, our Indonesian partners, YIARI, are leading a life-saving mission to rescue, rehabilitate and rewild some of the world’s last remaining orangutans. Every orangutan they save has its own story, often found orphaned, injured, or traumatised after being taken from the wild or displaced by industrial scale deforestation.

YIARI’s team of vets and carers give these vulnerable animals a second chance: nurturing them back to health, teaching them survival skills in a purpose built rehabilitation centre, and, when they’re ready, releasing them into protected rainforest habitats where they can thrive.

Local Partner: YIARI

Project Impact

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ORANGUTANS RESCUED

Over 300+ critically endangered orangutans rescued and, where possible, given a 2nd chance in the wild.
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ORANGUTANS RELEASED

154 orangutans have been released, comprising 82 wild orangutans and 72 rehabilitated orangutans.
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wild births

10 wild births recorded from previously rescued orangutans – a remarkable milestone proving rehabilitation works.

The Full Story

The Orangutan Conservation Centre

In 2013, with our local partners YIARI, we established the first orangutan rescue and rehabilitation centre in West Kalimantan, in the village of Sungai Awan. Set within over 150 hectares of secondary and peat swamp forest, it’s the ideal place for rescued orangutans to learn the skills they need for life in the wild.

The centre includes:

A state-of-the-art veterinary clinic
Quarantine and recovery zones
Nursery, forest ‘school’ and four pre-release forest islands
A guesthouse for visiting researchers
The base for YIARI’s outreach and conservation programmes

Here, rescued orangutans begin their journey to recovery in a setting designed to mirror the wild as closely as possible.

An Orangutan's Journey

Rescue: Emergency Action with Local Communities

Orangutan rescues are only carried out as a last resort, when every effort to keep an animal in the wild has failed. YIARI’s teams are alerted by conservation authorities (BKSDA), community members, their Orangutan Protection Units, or local prevention groups.

Each rescue is carried out with care:

A veterinary assessment is done on-site
Orangutans are microchipped and health checked
Wild individuals may be translocated immediately if safe to do so
Confiscated pets and injured individuals are brought to the centre for rehabilitation

This work is done in close collaboration with local authorities and with the support of people living near orangutan habitats, many of whom are trained and employed as part of the solution.

Rehabilitation: Learning to Live Wild Again

Baby orangutans stay with their mothers for up to eight years in the wild, learning everything they need to survive. At the centre, orphaned orangutans are nurtured by skilled carers and when ready are introduced to a surrogate orangutan ‘mother’ who teaches them how to climb, forage, build nests, and recognise threats.

Rehabilitation includes:

Baby school and nursery for the youngest
Forest school where juveniles learn key survival skills
Island living for older orangutans approaching release

Every step mirrors the wild as closely as possible to prepare them for life on their own.

Release: A Second Chance in the Wild

When ready, rehabilitated orangutans are released into carefully chosen forests that are protected, monitored, and capable of sustaining new populations. YIARI follow IUCN guidelines for great ape reintroduction and work in full collaboration with national park authorities, local governments, and nearby communities.

Release types:

Translocation for healthy wild orangutans rescued from conflict zones
Soft release for long-term rehabilitated orangutans, with monitoring for up to two years

Current release sites include:

Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park – 181,000 hectares of protected rainforest with potential for population growth
Gunung Tarak Nature Reserve – an important buffer forest adjoining Gunung Palung National Park

Thanks to this programme, YIARI has recorded nine wild births among previously rescued and rehabilitated orangutans. It is proof that with the right rehabilitation rescued individuals can not only survive, but thrive and contribute to the future of their species.

Protecting Rainforests, Supporting People

Orangutan conservation doesn’t stop with rescue. YIARI work with local communities to reduce human-wildlife conflict, restore degraded rainforest, and support sustainable livelihoods that protect the forest rather than destroy it. From eco-friendly farming to forest patrols and education, local people are at the heart of long-term solutions for orangutans and their habitat.

A Future for Orangutans

Orangutans are critically endangered, but each rescue, each successful rehabilitation, and each release brings new hope. Thanks to the dedication of YIARI’s teams, their community-based approach, and the support of people like you, we’re helping rebuild wild orangutan populations, one life at a time.

Save critically endangered orangutans today

Orphaned orangutans need years to learn the skills they will need in the wild. Watch this three minute video to see how they progress through our rescue centre, making friends and learning how to be wild.

Save critically endangered orangutans today