The team confirmed the birth of the infant on 22 May 2026. Staff spotted Bulan carrying her infant in the treetops when they were monitoring the protected forest. The baby was around one month old at the time and appeared to be in good health. “Bulan looked alert and was protecting her infant. The baby seemed healthy and remained in close contact with its mother throughout the observation period,” said Hafiz, head of the orangutan reintroduction centre in Jantho.

From a victim of the illegal wildlife trade to a mother in the wild

Bulan was rescued from the illegal wildlife trade in Aceh, in northern Sumatra, in December 2014 when she was around two years old. After four years in the care of the SOCP orangutan Quarantine and Rehabilitation Centre in Sibolangit, North Sumatra, SOCP’s vets released her back into the wild. Successful reproduction in the wild is a clear indicator that reintroduced orangutans have adapted to their natural environment and are capable of surviving.

«Bulan’s journey highlights just how important it is to protect the forests where orangutans live. At the same time, it shows just how challenging the conservation of the species is: the long intervals between births make every single orangutan particularly valuable for the survival of the population.»

Dr Brigitte Spillmann
PanEco Programme Director for Indonesia

The young orangutan was named Badar, which means ‘bright full moon’ in Indonesian. His name reflects the hope for the future of this endangered great ape species. The Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) is classified as ‘critically endangered’ on the IUCN Red List. Habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as illegal wildlife trade, threaten the species throughout its entire remaining range. The birth of Bulan’s baby is an encouraging sign that rescued orangutans can successfully return to the wild and contribute to the future of their species.