Rosa Yaneswara joined our sister foundation YEL as a junior vet immediately after completing her studies at the Veterinarian School in Yogyakarta on the island of Java in 2022. Until then, she had no experience with orangutans. Like in Swiss universities, the teachers could only deal with wild animals in passing. That is why she decided to gain practical experience with wild animals during her studies by completing an internship at a wildlife rescue centre. A second internship at a Seaworld Centre introduced her to saltwater fish and marine mammals. Rosa Yaneswara loves hiking in the rainforest.

Like many others of her generation, Rosa has a keen interest in the environment, and she wants to actively campaign against global warming. At university, she found fellow campaigners in the hiking club and the wildlife studies club. These groups focus on studying wild animals and how to protect them. They organize joint excursions to become familiar with the habitats of the animals. Rosa loved these excursions into the rainforest! That’s why she was immediately drawn to the position of veterinarian in charge at our reintroduction centre in Jantho, Aceh province. It takes a two to five hours drive to reach Jantho from the last village on the edge of the forest, depending on weather conditions. Each assignment lasts 20 days until she is relieved by her vet colleague Khin.

Food and data management

The young vet’s main responsibility is to optimise the final preparation of the orangutans for release into the wild. Up to five animals are in the care of the 15-strong team at the centre at any one time. The team accompanies the orangutans in the rainforest for around three months after they have been released into the wild and it observes how the animals adapt and find their way in their new environment. Rosa manages all the data collected on the animals, organises and monitors their diet, and assesses their mental skills. She regularly consults with Citra, our head vet at the reintroduction station, and her vet colleague Khin about the animals’ progress.

Life without WiFi

Life in the centre is very simple. In the evenings, they play card and board games or watch a film together on the laptop. There is no internet connection, and the team is therefore cut off from life outside of the rainforest. Rosa likes the respectful atmosphere and gets on well with everyone. Nevertheless, she was also pleased about the new arrangement to work in rotation with the other vets at the quarantine and rehabilitation centre near Medan. This means she regularly has a change of scenery, and she can still enjoy life in the forest.