Onyer

A villager found little Onyer alone near a gold mine in Borneo, when he was just 10 months old.

The man was on his way home from work when he spotted the tiny orangutan sitting on the ground, all alone and without his mother. He took Onyer home, but after a few weeks realised he could not care for him properly and made the right decision to hand the baby orangutan over to the local authorities.

Today, Onyer lives at the Nyaru Menteng rehabilitation centre, where he attends forest school together with other young orangutans. At first, he was anxious and often cried at night, afraid of being abandoned again. But over time, he began to feel safe with his caregivers.

Now, Onyer is a cheeky little orangutan who loves climbing, playing on swings and admiring himself in the camera. He’s curious, loves his food, and is especially fond of rambutan – sometimes so much that he tries to steal it from his friends!

Onyer has a strong personality and often seeks comfort from the adults he trusts. He still has a lot to learn, but taking one day at a time he will surely be able to return to the rainforest as a wild and free orangutan.

Below you can watch a video of how the rescuing of an orangutang is made.