Like Redi, Banir was reunited with Otan, Juli, and Seko on 3 June 2026 following the rehabilitation team’s evaluation of the group’s social dynamics. Unlike Redi, who displayed noticeable behavioral changes while housed with Manfred, Banir remained relatively stable throughout that period. Even so, after rejoining her previous group, Banir appeared more relaxed and comfortable in her daily activities. She resumed playing, interacting, and exploring alongside her group members without showing signs of stress or avoiding any particular individual. The rehabilitation team continues to monitor the orangutans’ social behavior on a regular basis to ensure that each individual is placed in the most appropriate social group, supporting both their welfare and rehabilitation progress.

Throughout June, Banir also demonstrated strong cognitive abilities through a newly introduced enrichment activity in her overnight cage. The animal keeper team installed a horizontal PVC pipe filled with honey and sunflower seeds as a foraging enrichment. This enrichment is designed to stimulate natural foraging behavior by encouraging orangutans to think critically, solve problems, and use objects in their surroundings to access food—skills that are essential for survival in the wild.

Remarkably, Banir needed very little time to figure out how the enrichment worked. Without any demonstration from the keepers, she immediately picked up a leftover branch from her nest, snapped off the smaller twigs to create a suitable tool, and used it to retrieve the sunflower seeds from inside the pipe. One by one, she successfully extracted the seeds before eating them. Banir’s ability to use a simple tool while adapting her strategy to obtain food demonstrates strong problem-solving skills and cognitive flexibility. Tool use like this has also been observed in wild orangutans, where natural objects are used to access otherwise difficult-to-reach food sources.

Banir’s Forest School sessions throughout June also progressed well. Together with her group, she actively explored different parts of the forest, spending most of her time in the middle and upper canopy while foraging on a variety of natural food sources. Throughout the sessions, Banir appeared increasingly confident moving from one tree to another. On several occasions, she was among the first individuals to venture into new areas of the forest, with Otan and Julia often following her movements. These observations suggest that Banir is becoming increasingly comfortable exploring the forest and adapting well to the dynamics of her social group.

From a health perspective, Banir remained in good condition throughout the month. The routine deworming program carried out by the Veterinary Team also proceeded smoothly. Banir readily accepted her deworming tablet without hesitation and even attempted to take the tablet that was being given to Seko. Despite her enthusiasm, the procedure was completed safely and without any complications.

The progress Banir demonstrated throughout the month reflects positive development in his behavior, cognitive abilities, and adaptation to Forest School. Through continued behavioral monitoring and a rehabilitation program tailored to her individual needs, we hope Banir will continue strengthening the natural skills and behaviors she needs to one day live independently in the wild.

Banir en Seko

Banir

Banir

Banir en Redi