GROWING STRONGER TOGETHER
Do you remember Esa and Indri, the two rescued baby orangutans who arrived together at Samboja Lestari in mid-2025? Both have now completed their quarantine period and joined the Nursery Group stage of Forest School. How are they progressing? Check out the story below.
From Rescue to Recovery
Since joining the Nursery Group, Esa and Indri have been making remarkable progress. Close in age, the pair are often mistaken for twins. They express a shared bond that has grown stronger as they adjust to their new surroundings.
When they first arrived, both were in a concerning state of health. Malnutrition and injuries marked their small bodies. Indri had an open wound on her head, which has meanwhile healed completely, thanks to the dedicated care of the Samboja Lestari medical team. She is now free to move around and explore the forest school alongside her peers.
Esa is a little adventurer, always exploring, climbing and swinging with confidence.
Life in the Nursery Group
Every day, Esa and Indri join the play sessions, where they interact not only with each other but also with Jenny, an older orangutan. Jenny often takes on the role of the playful instigator, especially teasing Indri. While Indri tends to seek comfort from her surrogate mothers, Jenny’s playful antics sometimes push her out of her comfort zone, prompting vocal protests.
Esa, on the other hand, shows a more independent spirit. Upon reaching the Nursery Group, she immediately heads to the trees, climbing and swinging with confidence. She spends much of her time exploring, such as tasting young leaves, gnawing on twigs, and even attempting to build simple ground nests using leaves given to her by his surrogate mothers. Her curiosity and initiative are promising signs for her future development.
Indri is shyer than Esa and often seeks comfort from her surrogate mothers.
Nourishment and Care
Under the watchful eyes of the surrogate mothers and medical team, both Esa and Indri are steadily regaining their health. They arrived underweight and weak, but with consistent nutrition, including milk and a variety of fresh fruits, their conditions have improved significantly. Their bodies are now stronger, their coats healthier and shinier, and their energy levels visibly higher.
Esa and Indri’s journey is still at its early stages, but their resilience and progress are a testament to the power of dedicated care and compassion. With continued guidance in the Nursery Group, these young orangutans will keep learning the essential survival skills they will one day need when they return to their true home, the Bornean rainforest.
