The ‘Stay Tuned for a Ranga Foundation’ plays a crucial role by raising essential funds, which are fully dedicated to supporting the ‘Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS)’ for their projects focused on safeguarding, rehabilitating, and reintroducing Orangutans into their natural habitat. Additionally, a portion of every consultation fee goes towards adopting Stay Tuned Orangutans, making it accessible for everyone to contribute to this vital cause.
Discover the latest updates on our adopted orangutans below!
VALENTINO – THE STYLISH ADVENTURER OF BADAK KECIL ISLAND
Valentino, the bold and stylish male orangutan, has truly begun to enjoy his adventures on Badak Kecil Pre-Release Island, thanks to his impressive adaptability and friendly nature. He now moves freely across the island with confidence, showing off his best poses on the feeding platform without fear of being disturbed or harmed by other orangutans, even those larger than himself.
When the feeding boat approaches, Valentino can often be seen standing tall on the platform, a small wooden stick clutched in his hand, as if it were his signature accessory. Once the fruits are distributed, he sits down calmly and enjoys his meal at an easy pace. Valentino isn’t a picky eater. Whatever fruit is available, he’ll take and savour it.
When other orangutans arrive, Valentino often shares the fruit beside him, especially with Oneng or even Mamalasa, as if he knows that greed might earn him unwanted trouble. However, when Longkong, the dominant male, appears, Valentino takes no chances. He quickly grabs a few pieces of fruit and darts away, knowing that sharing is not an option when it comes to the alpha male.
If Valentino still feels unsatisfied after feeding time, he has his own way of asking for more. He follows the technicians’ boat along the riverbank, playfully spraying water and tossing twigs toward them. As the technicians hand him extra fruit, Valentino takes his prize up into the trees or settles by the river’s edge to enjoy it in peace.
Today, Valentino is in excellent health, as charming and expressive as ever. His signature pose—sitting with his mouth open in that unmistakably confident way—gives us a glimpse of his playful personality and undeniable charm.
TOPAN – GROWING CONFIDENCE ON BANGAMAT ISLAND
Topan, the graceful female orangutan who was often seen at the feeding platform alongside her companion Mema, is now showing a new side of herself. She has begun exploring other areas of the pre-release island, slowly growing more confident and familiar with her surroundings and the other orangutans who share the habitat.
Recently, she was even observed spending time near a dominant male named Negeri. Mema seems to be adapting well to the island’s social dynamics. These days, Topan is rarely found at her old favourite spot near the feeding platform. Instead, she often spends her time near the island’s edges, where she enjoys playing by the water or savouring her favourite treat, tender bamboo shoots.
When the technicians call her name during additional feeding time, Topan responds by moving toward the sound. She fixes her gaze on the fruits they bring, approaches calmly, and takes just enough to satisfy her. Afterwards, she finds a comfortable spot to sit and enjoy her meal, often with quiet contentment. Once she’s full, she climbs up a nearby tree, either to rest or simply to watch the technicians from a distance. This behaviour reflects both her curiosity and her trust in our technician.
As the day draws to a close, Topan nearly always returns to the area around the feeding platform to build her night nest. Whether out of habit or affection for the place, it has become her chosen refuge. Every evening, she crafts a new nest from fresh leaves, never reusing the one from the previous day. This simple yet meaningful ritual is a testament to her natural instincts and the peaceful rhythm of her life on Bangamat Island.
Topan’s journey highlights her steady transformation from a cautious observer into an independent explorer, preparing herself for a future in the wild.
ONYER – ONYER’S GROWING CONFIDENCE IN FOREST SCHOOL
Onyer is currently thriving in Forest School Group 3, showing remarkable signs of growth and maturity. He no longer relies as much on his surrogate mothers as he once did. These days, Onyer spends most of his time up in the trees, playfully swinging on the rubber ropes crafted by the enrichment team. He seems to truly enjoy his independence in the canopy.
Despite his growing confidence, Onyer still maintains a cautious nature. When he encounters someone new, he prefers to keep his distance, quietly observing from afar. Only when he feels safe does he continue his play, gracefully swinging and exploring as if nothing had happened.
During fruit-feeding time, Onyer is often seen standing close to his surrogate mothers’ legs as his favourite safe spot. Because he’s smaller than some of his peers, this little trick helps him keep his share of fruit from being snatched away.
Onyer still enjoys the company of his close friends, Jeni and Aiko, especially during the daily walks to and from Forest School. Recently, though, he’s been spending more time with Jeni, as Aiko often chooses to travel through the treetops, skilfully moving across branches to return to the school complex. Meanwhile, Onyer and Jeni prefer walking side by side on the ground, sometimes hugging each other along the way or even asking their surrogate mothers for a lift when they get tired.
Through small yet meaningful changes in his daily behaviour, Onyer is demonstrating that he’s becoming a more confident and independent young orangutan. Each positive step brings him closer to his future life in the wild.
JENI – A CALM SPIRIT IN THE FOREST SCHOOL
Jeni, the adventurous young orangutan, continues to thrive in Forest School Group 3 alongside her close friends, Onyer and Aiko, as well as several other companions. Over time, her personality and habits have remained remarkably consistent. Jeni has always been known as an explorer at heart, and she continues to live up to that reputation every single day.
One of her most defining traits is her love for building nests. Almost daily, Jeni can be seen weaving together leaves and branches to create new, comfortable shelters high up in the trees. Sometimes she builds alone, fully absorbed in her craft, while at other times she works side by side with her best friend, Aiko. For Jeni, nest-building has become a routine part of her life. This behaviour not only showcases her intelligence but also her strong survival instinct.
Jeni rarely spends time on the forest floor. She seems most at home among the branches, high above the ground. She only comes down occasionally, usually when her surrogate mother calls her name for feeding time or when it’s time to return to the complex. At those moments, Jeni descends gracefully to collect her fruit before heading back up to enjoy it in peace.
Interestingly, Jeni has also shown a gentle sense of curiosity. Whenever the veterinary team visits the forest school to check on the orangutans’ health, Jeni can’t resist coming down from her nest to investigate. She quietly approaches, studying the unfamiliar visitors, sometimes reaching out to touch their clothes as if to decide whether they are familiar. Once her curiosity is satisfied, she calmly returns to her nest above.
Sometimes, Jeni returns to find her nest occupied by another orangutan. But rather than reacting aggressively, she simply moves on and begins building a new one. Her calm nature and adaptability are what make her so special, and these traits will one day serve her well when she’s ready to live fully in the wild.
Steady, clever, and endlessly curious, Jeni continues to grow in confidence and skill. Her days in Forest School reflect not just her progress, but her quiet strength and readiness for the next step on her journey toward freedom.
IQO – THE PLAYFUL EXPLORER OF THE FOREST SCHOOL
Iqo, the graceful young orangutan known for her curiosity and independence, continues to thrive in the large Nursery Group at Forest School. Once inseparable from her close companion Rumba, Iqo has now begun to explore her world more freely, often spending time with new friends like Ramangai and Segi. The three seem to share a special bond: united by their love of adventure and climbing high into the treetops.
Though Iqo still occasionally joins Rumba on the ground to play near the trees or splash around in muddy puddles, she’s now showing more independence and social confidence. Her surrogate mothers often smile when they see her engaging joyfully with others.
Iqo is known as a clever orangutan who rarely gives her surrogate mothers trouble, but lately she’s begun showing a playful, mischievous side. One of her favourite new tricks involves sneaking a milk container from her surrogate mothers’ basket when they’re not looking. She then uses it like a scoop, dipping it into the puddles around the large group area to pour water over herself. With the weather at the forest school shifting unpredictably between heat and rain, it seems Iqo has found her own way to keep cool.
After her little “bath,” Iqo often abandons the container and climbs back up into the trees, swinging gracefully from the hanging branches with her reddish fur glistening in the dappled sunlight.
Despite her growing independence, Iqo’s bond with Rumba remains strong. Every morning on their way to the forest school area, and again when returning, the two can be seen walking side by side. Sometimes Iqo leads the way while Rumba wraps her arms around Iqo from behind, as if unwilling to let go of her beloved friend.
Playful, intelligent, and full of life, Iqo continues to flourish in the forest school. She is taking one step closer each day to the moment when she will be ready to return to the wild forest where she truly belongs.
BUMI – BUMI’S ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT ON BANGAMAT ISLAND
Bumi, known for his love of exploration, seemed a little too enthusiastic when he first arrived on the pre-release island. In August, when the water level was unusually low, his curiosity led him and his companion, Cimon, to cross over to the neighbouring island beside Bangamat. Fortunately, the two didn’t wander too far, and the monitoring technicians spotted them before they could disappear deeper into the forest.
Concerned that the pair might attempt to cross again if water levels remained low, the team decided to bring both Bumi and Cimon back to the Nyaru Menteng 3 clinic complex as a safety precaution. When they were retrieved from the island, Bumi appeared confused, especially when placed inside the transport cage.
Back at the clinic, he was seen watching other orangutans undergoing health checks and transmitter installations in preparation for their release. His eyes followed the process closely, and between moments of quiet observation, he played with the leaves inside his enclosure, as if he somehow understood that one day, he might go through the same experience.
In September 2025, Bumi finally returned to Bangamat Island. The water level had stabilised, and the team decided it was time for him to continue his pre-release journey rather than remain in the clinic too long. Once back on the island, Bumi quickly settled in, resuming his usual routine near the riverbanks where he often plays with other orangutans.
During feeding time, Bumi rarely climbs up to the feeding platform. Instead, he waits patiently by the river. True to his nature, he continues to move frequently, exploring different parts of the island, making each encounter with him a little adventure of its own.
Physically, Bumi remains in excellent condition. His health is stable, and he shows no signs of injury or conflict with other orangutans. His curious behaviour reflects a growing maturity, while his adventurous side reminds everyone why he is such a remarkable individual.
Bumi’s time on Bangamat Island is another crucial step toward his ultimate goal, returning to the wild. Also, with every passing day, his resilience and curiosity continue to shine through, guiding him ever closer to his true freedom.
BAIMAH – LEARNING INDEPENDENCE AT FOREST SCHOOL
Baimah is one of the most active and independent orangutans at the forest school. Each day, she can be seen energetically climbing and playing among the tall trees, showcasing her growing natural skills. In this environment, Baimah has learned to forage for forest foods on her own, ranging from fruits to young leaves. She is demonstrating remarkable progress in her survival abilities.
In addition to her foraging skills, Baimah has also mastered the art of building nests and is often seen resting high up in the trees, displaying her strong natural instincts. However, despite her independence, she still has a gentle, social side. Occasionally, she cries when she finds herself too far from the other orangutans during school activities, revealing that her social attachment and sense of companionship remain deeply rooted.
In the enclosure, Baimah shares her space with Feruza, Galaksi, and Otan. Their interactions are harmonious, creating a positive social environment that supports her behavioural development. Physically, she is in an ideal condition, with a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 3, indicating a healthy, well-balanced body. She also enjoys drinking milk and has a few favourite foods, such as bananas, dragon fruit, and papaya.
Overall, Baimah’s health is excellent. However, on 24 September 2025, she sustained a minor injury near her hip, possibly caused by a piece of wood or a stump after falling from a tree. The incident required her to take a short rest and temporarily skip forest school activities while receiving both internal and external treatment.
Fortunately, her recovery was quick. Within just a few days, the wound began to heal, and Baimah regained her enthusiasm to rejoin her classmates. Now, she is once again actively climbing, playing, and practising essential survival skills. It’s proving her resilience and strong determination as a young orangutan full of potential.
