Orangutan Foundation

Orangutan Foundation Working to save the critically endangered orangutan and their tropical rainforest habitat.
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Founded in 1990, Orangutan Foundation is the foremost orangutan conservation organisation working actively across the entire range of the orangutan species. Our mission is to save orangutans by protecting their tropical forest habitat, working with local communities and promoting research and education. Visit https://www.facebook.com/orangutanfndn.id/ for our Indonesian page. Visit http://www.orangutan.org.uk/blog/ for all the latest news from our team in Indonesian Borneo.

29/05/2026

We have exciting news from Lamandau Wildlife Reserve… Labetty has given birth!

Labetty, who usually roams the area around Camp Rasak, had not been seen for two months.

But last week after her long absence, the female slowly emerged into the camp clearing.

Knowing she had been pregnant, all eyes were on Labetty as she climbed up a nearby tree, perched on a branch – and began nursing her tiny, fragile newborn.

Wild births are always a moment of celebration, but this is even more exciting because Labetty herself is the offspring of an ex-captive female that we released in 2006, Lady Di.

New generations of orangutans from ex-captive lineages are a testament to orangutan reintroduction programmes, and to the suitability of Lamandau Wildlife Reserve as a habitat for this critically endangered species.

Labetty stayed in the tree for a couple of hours, observing the camp below. Her infant, which staff identified as female, slept most of the time, gently fluttering open her eyes every now and then as she slowly becomes more aware of the world around her.

Please donate from just £2 at https://www.orangutan.org.uk/donate to help us continue protecting the next generation of orangutans.

Sheila has a full-time job taking care of her fourth offspring Silva!Whether he is hanging from his hands-like-feet or c...
24/05/2026

Sheila has a full-time job taking care of her fourth offspring Silva!

Whether he is hanging from his hands-like-feet or climbing on his mother as if she is a playground, one thing is clear… boys will be boys!

Sheila is an ex-captive that was released into the wild in 2004.

It is wonderful to see her success as a mother – she is a testament to the reintroduction programme.

21/05/2026

Orangutans are incredibly intelligent!

Acuy is an ex-captive that was reintroduced to the wild in 2006.

She has gone on to have four offspring and is a testament to our reintroduction programmes.

But clearly, somewhere in her early captive life, she was introduced to coconuts!

Coconuts are a wonderful source of enrichment for the orphans in our soft-release programme who are also making their journeys back into the wild.

But if Acuy passes through camp whilst venturing through the forest and catches sight of a coconut, rest assured she will do everything she can to get her hands on it!

This time, Acuy and her second offspring Ariel broke into the sleeping enclosure of an orphaned orangutan when nobody was looking and managed to rip open the coconut with their bare hands – a tasty reward.

It is always fascinating to witness the clever minds of this critically endangered species.

18/05/2026

Did you know that Borneo’s forests are one of the oldest and most biodiverse habitats on Earth?

It is estimated that they are home to 10% of the world’s plants, 16% of reptiles and amphibians, 17% of birds and 12% of mammals.

Please join Orangutan Foundation as a member today from £15 a year to help us protect these vital habitats at www.orangutan.org.uk/become-a-member

Don’t miss our Red Ape newsletter! Please visit orangutan.org.uk and become a member from £15 a year or adopt an orphane...
18/05/2026

Don’t miss our Red Ape newsletter!

Please visit orangutan.org.uk and become a member from £15 a year or adopt an orphaned orangutan to receive a copy and support our programmes.

This issue focuses on wildlife photography, with Orangutan Foundation’s ambassador and photographer Ian Wood sharing the stories behind some of his favourite shots!

Inside you can also find exclusive stories from the field and updates on the orangutans in our care.

Image by Ian Wood

Today is Endangered Species Day!The island of Borneo where we work is home to many endangered species. Here are our top ...
15/05/2026

Today is Endangered Species Day!

The island of Borneo where we work is home to many endangered species. Here are our top 5!

1. The Bornean pygmy elephant (endangered)
2. Proboscis monkey (endangered)
3. Bornean orangutan (critically endangered)
4. Storm’s stork (endangered)
5. Sun bear (vulnerable)

Through our habitat protection and reforestation programmes in partnership with BKSDA (government conservation agency), we help protect the future of these incredible species and more.

Photo credits: Francis J Taylor, Tim Jukes, Brian Matthews

14/05/2026

If you’ve seen our most recent Timtom video of her having an Indonesian bucket shower or ‘Mandi’, you will be aware that this orangutan loves water.

After high demand, we bring you more Timtom content!

Here, she is splashing in the river during the rainy season when water levels are high.

Timtom will happily play with water for hours on end, but thanks to the positive influence of her camp mate Sinta who always spends time in the trees, Timtom is also mastering all the skills she needs for an independent life.

Now that she can climb, find food and regularly builds nests, it won’t be long before Timtom is ready for a life in the wild.

In the meantime, she will always make time for play!

In preparation for Indonesia’s National Conservation Day on August 10, our Education Team held a nature-based activity d...
13/05/2026

In preparation for Indonesia’s National Conservation Day on August 10, our Education Team held a nature-based activity day for students that have dropped out of school. 🧡

Students were invited to plant seedlings together and produce nature-inspired arts and crafts to inspire a connection to the natural world.

This event was more than a celebration – it was a step towards raising awareness of conservation, supporting young people and caring for our planet together.

Save the date!

We have exciting news!Have you heard? Our ambassador and award-winning wildlife photographer Ian Wood is offering a once...
11/05/2026

We have exciting news!

Have you heard? Our ambassador and award-winning wildlife photographer Ian Wood is offering a once-in-a-lifetime trip to visit our programmes in Indonesian Borneo and learn how to photograph wildlife!

This trip gives you the rare opportunity to see our work up close.

Ian shares the stories behind his favourite images from his trips in our Red Ape newsletter, out now!

To receive a copy, please visit www.orangutan.org.uk and become a member from £15 a year or adopt an orangutan.

Donations from the trip help fund our critical programmes in Indonesian Borneo.
For further information about the trip visit www.agoodplace.org.uk
Image by Ian Wood

10/05/2026

Riki still isn’t sure about climbing… so he clings to his roommate Roni for comfort! That’s one way to do it!

Roni and Riki are two infants that recently joined the soft-release programme for orphaned orangutans at Camp JL, Lamandau Wildlife Reserve.

Both were kept as pets in nearby villages before being handed over to our staff and BKSDA (government conservation agency).

Instead of living in the wild under the care and protection of their mothers, they have been taken from the forest, kept in captivity and then uprooted for a third time to enter our care.

Though the orphans are now in safe hands, this experience can be confusing and traumatic.

Roni and Riki live alongside three other infants with the same story. All are encouraging one another to learn how to be a wild orangutan.

Over the next eight years or so, they will spend time in the forest each day learning to climb, forage and build nests until they are ready for release into the protected Lamandau Wildlife Reserve.

Happy birthday Sir David Attenborough.Sir David has been a beacon of hope in conservation for decades, bringing nature t...
08/05/2026

Happy birthday Sir David Attenborough.

Sir David has been a beacon of hope in conservation for decades, bringing nature to the eyes of the world.

"Finding these images of the time spent with Sir David filming 'Life of Mammals' in 2002 at Camp Leakey, Tanjung Puting National Park has brought back many memories.

It was an honour to film with him. I can say that he is without doubt one of the most remarkable people on our planet.

Everything that one reads about him or says about him is true - he is one of the most humble and wonderful people to be around. He is great company and has a tremendous sense of humour."

- Ashley Leiman OBE
Director and Founder of Orangutan Foundation

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