Orangutan mom adopts best friend's baby in Borneo jungle!

Orangutan mom adopts best friend's baby in Borneo jungle!

A heartwarming story from the jungles of Borneo delights animal rights activists and orangutan lovers alike. In a remarkable act of friendship, a female orangutan named Du has adopted the baby of her missing friend Melata and is lovingly caring for little Dumel. This touching incident was confirmed by animal rights activists near the orangutan rescue center in Palangkaraya.

Du's story is not only fascinating but also tragic. As a newborn, she was separated from her mother and illegally smuggled from Borneo to Thailand. There she was kept in an amusement park until she was able to return to her homeland with other orangutans in 2006. But rehabilitation for Du was no longer possible because she was ten years old. Nevertheless, she proved to be strong and independent and was soon allowed to move to a pre-wilding area.

The empowering role of friendship

During her life in the jungle, Du gave birth to several children and showed herself to be a caring mother. Their first daughter Dea was successfully released into the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park, followed by Dinda and little son Dai. At the same time, her close friend Melata, who was also rescued from Thailand, gave birth to her daughter Dumel. However, Melata's story is one of sadness, as she had previously lost two children.

In February 2023, when Melata was last seen with Dumel, she suddenly disappeared from the sight of animal rights activists. This came just a short time after a male orangutan was spotted holding the baby. At this point, Du took charge and carried Dumel as if it were her own child. She protected the little one from the male orangutans and offered her security in the difficult situation.

The bond between Du and Melata was strong from the start. Animal rights activists report that you always had an inseparable friendship with Melata. The act of taking Dumel into her care shows not only Du's amazing caring nature, but also the deep emotional connections these animals can form with each other. As babysitter Mama Eva aptly put it, this is “heartwarming.”

It is well known that twin births in orangutans are extremely rare. These animals have one of the longest birth intervals among great apes, with births six to eight years apart. Therefore, Du’s decision to record Dumel is both remarkable and brave. In order to support Du and the two little orangutans during this challenging time, the little family was temporarily brought back to the Nyaru Menteng rescue center.

The relationship Du developed with Dumel is a powerful example of the deep connection and care within the orangutan community. This story shows us once again that animal moms in the jungle are ready to support their friends, even if it means adopting an additional child. In a world where orangutans are increasingly in distress, this heartfelt tale of motherhood and friendship lights the way for the species. These special moments of compassion and responsibility are a ray of hope in the dark reality of endangered species.

For more information, see the current reporting on www.radioherne.de.