Medan, Indonesia, 07 August 2026
The Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) has confirmed two wild births
from rehabilitated Sumatran orangutans in the Jantho Nature Reserve in Aceh, Indonesia,
within less than three months. The latest birth was recorded from Wenda, a rehabilitated
female orangutan released into the Jantho in 2014, following the confirmation of Bulan’s
infant in May 2026.

The birth of Wenda’s infant was confirmed on 29 July 2026 when SOCP’s Post-Release
Monitoring (PRM) team observed Wenda with her newborn through the forest canopy during
monitoring activities. The infant is estimated to be less than one week old and appeared
healthy throughout the observation period. The baby remained closely attached as Wenda
moved naturally through the forest.

Wenda was confiscated in 2009 when she was approximately one year old. Following
rehabilitation at the SOCP Orangutan Quarantine and Rehabilitation Centre in Sibolangit,
North Sumatra, she was transferred to the Jantho Orangutan Reintroduction Centre in 2013
and released into the wild in 2014. Since her release, Wenda has been regularly monitored by
SOCP’s Post-Release Monitoring team.

During our observation, Wenda appeared active while moving through the forest canopy,
with her infant clinging tightly to her chest. The baby looked healthy and stayed in close
contact with Wenda, said Hafiz, Manager of the Jantho Orangutan Reintroduction Centre.
To date, more than 190 rehabilitated Sumatran orangutans have been released into the
Jantho Nature Reserve. With Wenda’s infant, eleven births have now been confirmed among
reintroduced orangutans in Jantho.

The confirmation of two births is an encouraging reflection of the effort behind orangutan
rehabilitation and reintroduction. It shows that rehabilitated orangutans, when given the
opportunity to return to their natural habitat, can survive, reproduce, and contribute to the
establishment of a new wild population. While these achievements are encouraging, they also
remind us of the continued importance of protecting the forests as their home, said M. Yakob
Ishadamy, Conservation Director of Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari (YEL).

The Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red
List. Habitat loss, forest fragmentation, and the illegal wildlife trade continue to threaten the
species throughout its remaining range.

The confirmation of two wild births within a short period provides another encouraging sign
that rehabilitated orangutans can successfully return to the wild and contribute to the future
of their species.

About SOCP
The Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) is a collaborative initiative
between Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari (YEL) and Indonesia’s Directorate General of Natural
Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE).
SOCP works to conserve Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutans through rescue and
rehabilitation, reintroduction, habitat protection, research, monitoring, and community
engagement.

Pictures follow later, but you can see them here: https://www.orangutanrescue.nl/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/PRESS-RELEASE-ANOTHER-REHABILITATED-ORANGUTAN-GIVES-BIRTH-ACEH-INDONESIA