Update on Island of the giants

This morning I visited the foundation’s PSO (Pusat Suaka Orangutan = Orangutan Sanctuary Center) and sat down for a review of the social interactions between the five big boys with the dedicated staff of the center led by Gregg. It was very satisfying to see how enthusiastic all staff showed their latest videos and discussed their observations. In the picture here we are looking at the organogram of the interrelationships between the five males and based upon the latest information started added more lines. Wonderful.

We also discussed the technical issues to install the additional cameras because of electricity supply and poor signal to the socialization facility. We went through the videos of the tests with moving the 160 kg heavy transport cages (filled with ballast!) and testing the floating devices attached to them. We came up with some minor suggestions to improve efficiency and safety. And finally discussed the last bureaucratic hurdles with regard to the island. But let’s start first with the big boys and how they are doing.

All of the males except Bonni have no reached their ideal body mass index of 3 and are active and super healthy. Bonni is still lazy but is stimulated to only getting food from the top of the facility. His bmi is still a disappointing 5. Dodo is eager to get some peanuts or raisins for showing his fingers, shoulder and back, each with increasing higher “payments”. Benni is starting to imitate him but is not yet willing to turn his back at the staff but willingly offers his fingers. What is clear though is that there is no stress between the five and the staff. Excellent. The interactions between them improve continuously for instance Bento lets Benni sit with him and even allows him to take food from his side of the tunnel gate. No mean intent, just very peaceful but clearly showing Bento to be in charge. Mungki and Dodo have now regular interactions sitting together for extended periods and making soft grunts that I suspect to be towards sexual interest. We are now drawing more lines, some dashed, between the five big boys.

Okay, time to address the island. Solar panels, lightning rods, water, communication all installed. Six full time around the clock new dedicated security personnel is patrolling the island around the clock on the newly acquired boats. All facilities are now ready and the contractor that build everything will have the handover of the work this week. Two more bigger boats are still being acquired as is the big drone to fly supplies to the feeding platforms. The placement of permanent boundary poles by the Nusantara government and their measurement by Indonesia’s land registration office is almost done. Based upon historical records the agency concluded that the official name of Kalawasen Island should be Sabut Island. Well we know what island we have prepared. Some discussions on the rehabilitation of the abandoned illegal shrimp ponds is still going on. So unfortunately our big boys have to still sit out some more bureaucratic time until we have the final date of their actual move to the island. But it is as it is and we must follow the rules to avoid potential future legal issues. I had a meeting yesterday with the legal department of Nusantara and asked them to help get the orangutans on the island soon. They promised their support.

To end here is a picture of Bento, at the moment in the big middle facility, meditating. I went away feeling very much at peace after having spend time with all of the big boys one on one except for Mungki, who seems a bit upset over having had to move out days before for Bento in the big middle compartment. We’ll keep you posted. More during my presentation in The Netherlands on June 5^th. (Lees hier meer over de lezing van Willie Smits op 5 juni 2026 in Veghel)

Thanks. Willie

Nusantara, 19-5-2026

Bento

Mungky/Mungki, slightly stressed about moving to a smaller part of the socialization facility