Orangutan Wenda Gives Birth to Female Infant After 12 Years of Reintroduction

The Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) reintroduction programme has achieved a new milestone. Wenda, a female orangutan released into the Jantho Nature Reserve in Aceh Besar Regency in 2014, has reportedly given birth to a female infant in her natural habitat.

Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni stated that the birth of the orangutan infant is an indicator of the success of sustainable wildlife rehabilitation and reintroduction efforts. “The government is committed to continuously strengthening conservation efforts, taking firm action against illegal wildlife trade, and ensuring that every orangutan released has the opportunity to live, adapt, and breed in its natural habitat,” Raja Juli Antoni said in a statement on Sunday (2/8/2026).

The Head of the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Ujang Wisnu Barata, noted that this success is the result of collaboration between the government, conservation partners, and the community in maintaining the Jantho Nature Reserve as a habitat for Sumatran orangutans. “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,” said Ujang.

According to Ujang, the birth of an orangutan infant in the wild serves as an important reminder of the necessity of preserving forests as habitats for protected species.

Wenda was an orangutan confiscated and brought to the SOCP Orangutan Quarantine and Rehabilitation Centre in Sibolangit in 2009, at which time she was estimated to be approximately one year old. In 201lar, Wenda was moved to the Jantho Orangutan Reintroduction Centre before being released a year later.

While living in the wild, Wenda has been one of the individuals routinely monitored by the Post Release Monitoring (PRM) team. On Wednesday (29/7/2026) at approximately 16:30 WIB, the PRM team discovered Wenda carrying an infant. Based on observations, the infant is estimated to be less than a week old and is female. The PRM team had previously detected signs of Wenda’s pregnancy since January 2026 through physical changes observed during monitoring activities.

Ujang stated that BKSDA Aceh will continue to strengthen area surveillance, increase collaboration with conservation partners, and involve the community in protecting the Jantho Nature Reserve from the threats of deforestation and wildlife trafficking.