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There is no contact with orangutan on our projects.

Excessive contact with lots of different people not only puts the orang's health at serious risk but also habituates them massively to people and our behaviour. In rehabilitation centres, this kind of habituation can be hugely problematic as we are obviously trying to convince them to like the jungle rather than humans.

30/05/2026

🐒 Meet Chiam – brilliant, bold, and a little bit cheeky

Chiam’s story is one of intelligence, resilience, and the complex reality of orangutan conservation. Originally surrendered to a rehabilitation centre, she struggled to integrate with other orangutans and was later moved to Matang Wildlife Centre in 1998 to begin jungle training.

There, she formed a lifelong friendship with another orangutan, Ghanti, and quickly proved just how clever she is—mastering survival skills and earning her release into the semi-wild in 1999.

But Chiam has always done things her own way. Known for her curiosity (and mischief!), she would break into buildings, steal tools, and even pull out power supplies—often putting herself at risk.

As she became a mother, her behaviour changed. After giving birth to Mamu in 2004 and later Apai in 2009, she became increasingly protective and, at times, aggressive. Sadly, due to repeated incidents, she had to be brought back into care permanently in 2011.

💛 It’s important to remember—this wasn’t really Chiam’s fault.

Orangutan conservation is incredibly complex, and sometimes difficult decisions have to be made with the bigger picture in mind—for both animals and people.
Today, Chiam lives with us alongside her third baby, Damu—who is just as cheeky as you’d expect!

✨ And her party trick? Her astonishing intelligence.
On one occasion, Chiam managed to connect multiple padlocks and chain her door to a wall… and then calmly handed back all the keys in the correct sequence.
Yes—she’s that smart.

🌿 Chiam reminds us that every orangutan is an individual—with their own personality, challenges, and incredible abilities.

28/05/2026

A Tiny Life, A Second Chance 🧡

This little one is a silvered leaf monkey — a species known for one incredible transformation. Babies are born a bright, striking orange, but as they grow, their fur darkens into the beautiful silvery-grey that gives them their name.

Sadly, moments like this often come with a difficult story. The illegal pet trade continues to threaten these monkeys, with babies taken from the wild far too young — often after their mothers are killed — so they can be sold as pets.

At Project Borneo, we do everything we can to give animals like this a second chance. Our goal is always to rehabilitate and release back into the wild where possible — where they truly belong.

But rescue is just the beginning. Our team spends countless sleepless nights caring for these babies — feeding them around the clock, keeping them warm, and giving them the comfort they would have had from their mothers. In many ways, it’s just like caring for a human baby.

Every life we save is a step towards protecting their future in the wild. 🧡🌿

26/05/2026

Carlos Knows How to Chill 😎

This weather has been scorching! ☀️

While our residents are well adapted to the heat of the Bornean climate, there’s nothing quite like a refreshing icy treat to cool down.

Our volunteers lovingly prepare frozen enrichment for the animals — packing their favourite fruits and vegetables into recycled bottles, topped with tea, and freezing them into delicious ice lollies. (We can’t lie… we’re a little jealous too! 🍉🧊)

Carlos has the right idea — sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying every bite.

Take a leaf out of his book: soak up the sunshine, but don’t forget to pause, unwind, and treat yourself too. 🍦

22/05/2026

That Friday Feeling 🎉

Leo’s got the memo.

Weekend mode: ON 🧡

📸 Peter Delaney

20/05/2026

High Achiever 💚

Catherine has come such a long way since being rescued by the Project Borneo team.

Her story begins with heartbreak. Catherine was a victim of the illegal pet trade, kept in horrific conditions—severely underweight, riddled with worms, and denied even the most basic needs of a wild orangutan. She was deprived of the life she deserved.

Thankfully, our team was able to rescue her. While her past means she can never be released back into the wild, her future is now filled with care, safety, and opportunity.
At Project Borneo, Catherine is thriving. She enjoys a spacious environment where she can grow and explore, a nutritious and balanced diet, and plenty of thoughtful enrichment—much of it lovingly handmade by our incredible volunteers.

In a truly special turn of events, Catherine surprised us all by becoming a mother. She gave birth to her son, Leo, and continues to show what a devoted and nurturing parent she is.

You’ll often find Catherine climbing high—right to the very top of the structures in her outdoor enclosure—confident, curious, and strong.

Catherine truly is the definition of a high achiever. 🌿

📸 Peter Delaney

16/05/2026

🦧🌿 GEORGE – KING OF THE JUNGLE 🌿👑

A true fan favourite among both our team and volunteers, meet the mighty George. The undisputed top dog at Matang, George claimed dominance over Aman many years ago and has ruled ever since. Handsome, commanding and quietly assured, he truly is king of his domain—oozing confidence and reminding us all just how strong and powerful our orangutan cousins can be.

George began his rehabilitation journey as an infant after being surrendered to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. It was there that he met two other young males, Richie and Aman—once companions, now rivals. As is natural for male orangutans, competition for dominance eventually emerged. Despite having vast areas of forest to share, these boys were never keen on sharing power.

Following a particularly aggressive encounter with Richie, George was forced to submit, tragically losing an eye in the process. For his own safety, he was transferred to Matang and into the care of Project Borneo. Over the years, George has also had several altercations with Aman—each time emerging victorious. Today, the two are housed separately to prevent further clashes, as both are still keen to prove their strength and status.

Most mornings, our volunteers wake to the sound of George’s immensely powerful long call—a deep, resonant bellow that echoes through the forest, reminding every animal nearby that he is still very much the king of the jungle.

Fiercely strong yet often quietly confident, George continues to win hearts while standing as a living reminder of the incredible power, resilience and presence of this remarkable species. 💚

Massive thank you to our incredibly talented Volunteer Facilitator Peter for this fantastic image

15/05/2026

✨ That Friday feeling! ✨

It’s been a long week, but the weekend is nearly here.

Our animal residents – including our ever‑charming binturongs 🐾 – have been keeping the team busy, with lots of exciting moments happening behind the scenes. We can’t wait to share more with you!

11/05/2026

🌿 A New Week Begins

The weekend has wrapped up and the pace is starting to shift.
A new week begins—and even our orangutan cousins can feel a touch of the Monday blues 🦧

Thankfully, a little support from friends makes all the difference!

09/05/2026

🌿 Welcoming in the weekend! 🌿

Things may have been a little quiet on our socials recently, but rest assured our team has been hard at work behind the scenes — keeping all of our animal residents happy, well‑fed, and enriched.

There’s lots to look forward to, so keep an eye out for some exciting updates coming very soon!

25/04/2026

🌿🐒 One Step Closer to the Forest ✨

This macaque is coming to the final stages of rehabilitation — stronger, wiser, and showing all the natural behaviours they’ll need to thrive back in the wild. From foraging practice to social skills and confidence‑building, every moment in the centre has been preparing them for this next chapter.

Rehabilitation isn’t just about healing injuries or gaining strength. It’s about relearning what it means to be wild: climbing with purpose, recognising natural foods, navigating social dynamics, and trusting their instincts again. Watching this macaque move with such focus and independence is a powerful reminder of why the work matters.

Release is never a goodbye — it’s a promise kept. A promise to give every animal the chance to return to the forest where they belong. 🌿💛🐒

Address

Matang Wildlife Centre
Kuching
93050

Telephone

+60143754295

Website

http://www.projectborneo.org/

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