Ahead of Indonesian Independence Day, Ministry of Forestry Announces Birth of Baby Orangutan in Jantho Nature Reserve
The Ministry of Forestry has reported the birth of a Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) infant at the Jantho Orangutan Reintroduction Centre within the Jantho Nature Reserve, Aceh Besar Regency, ahead of the 81st Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia.
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni, in a statement confirmed from Jakarta on Saturday, stated that the arrival of the baby orangutan serves as a symbol of new hope for the sustainability of invaluable forest ecosystems. He also emphasised that the government is committed to strengthening conservation efforts, taking firm action against illegal wildlife trade, and ensuring that every released orangutan has the opportunity to live, adapt, and breed in its natural habitat.
The Head of the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) of the Ministry of Forestry, Ujang Wisnu Barlama, explained that the infant belongs to a mother named Wenda, who underwent rehabilitation before being released into the wild in 201 $ ext{mod}$ 14.
On 29 July 2026, at approximately 16:30 WIB, the Post Release Monitoring (PRM) team detected an adult female orangutan carrying an infant. Upon closer observation, it was confirmed that Wenda was carrying a female infant, estimated to be less than a week old. Signs of pregnancy had been identified since January 2026 through physical changes observed during monitoring activities.
He noted that the increase in the population of this endangered species is the result of synergy between the government, conservation partners, and the community in maintaining the Jantho Nature Reserve as a habitat for Sumatran orangutans.
“Our commitment is to preserve the Jantho Nature Reserve as a Sumatran orangutan habitat by strengthening supervision, increasing collaboration with conservation partners, and involving the community in protecting forest areas from the threats of destruction and wildlife trade. This success is a collective effort, and we believe that through synergy among all parties, the future of the Sumatran orangutan and its habitat will be preserved,” he said.
He emphasised that the birth of the baby orangutan in the Jantho Nature Reserve is not only joyful news but also a reminder that protecting the forest means protecting life. “Orangutans can only survive if their habitat remains sustainable,” he concluded.