A two-year-old male orangutan named Roy was officially handed over to the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) on Tuesday, following more than a year of being raised by a resident in Palangka Raya.
The handover took place at a house on Jalan Merdeka Km 10 and was marked by a quiet but emotional farewell. Roy clung to the woman who had cared for him since infancy, wrapping his arms tightly around her as officers prepared to take him into custody.
The woman, who had acted as Roy’s foster carer, gently stroked his back and wiped away tears as the moment unfolded. No formal ceremony was held. There were no raised voices. Only a subdued atmosphere as Roy was transferred to conservation authorities.
Roy was discovered orphaned in the Kahayan Hulu Mahuroi area and later brought into human care. Since then, he had been raised as a dependent infant, accustomed to close physical contact and daily care. He was regularly fed, carried, and slept in his foster carer’s arms.
The bond formed during that period was evident during the handover. Roy repeatedly reached out, holding onto his carer’s clothing and maintaining eye contact, seemingly unaware that the separation was permanent.
“Parting while we’re still loving each other,” wrote one netizen in response to a video uploaded by Central Kalimantan BKSDA on its official Instagram account.
Transfer to Rehabilitation Centre
Despite the emotional weight of the moment, BKSDA officials stressed that the handover was necessary and in the best interest of the animal.
Following initial examinations, Roy was reported to be in relatively good condition, weighing approximately seven kilograms. No immediate health concerns were identified.
After the handover, Roy was transferred to the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Nyaru Menteng, Central Kalimantan. At the facility, he will undergo further medical checks and receive structured care in line with wildlife conservation standards.
The rehabilitation process aims to gradually reduce Roy’s dependence on humans. He will be trained to climb, forage, and interact with other orangutans, skills essential for survival in the wild. If rehabilitation is successful, Roy may eventually be reintroduced into a protected forest habitat.
Officials emphasised that while the foster carer’s intentions were not questioned, prolonged human contact can hinder an orangutan’s ability to live independently in nature.
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Reminder on Protected Wildlife
The Central Kalimantan BKSDA reiterated that orangutans are protected species under Indonesian law and must not be kept as pets by members of the public.
The agency urged residents to report any findings of protected wildlife to authorities immediately, rather than attempting to raise the animals themselves.
“We also hope that the public will increasingly understand the importance of not keeping wild animals as pets and immediately report to the BKSDA if they find protected animals, so that conservation efforts can proceed together,” the agency stated in its official Instagram post.
While the separation was painful, conservationists stress that such decisions are critical to ensuring the long-term survival of endangered species.
Roy is no longer in human care. His transfer marks the beginning of a rehabilitation process designed to prepare him for life where he belongs.
