Words by Abi Scaife
Budi the orangutan is being released, nine years after he captured the hearts of people all over the world.
Tell me more!
Budi is an orangutan that received a huge amount of publicity in 2014 when he was rescued as a baby.
He was kept in a chicken cage, leaving his limbs cramped and malformed, he was being fed only condensed milk, and was on the verge of dying from malnutrition when he was saved.
The rescue was a joint effort between the Agency for Natural Resources Conservation (BKSDA) in Ketapang, West Borneo, the Gunung Palung National Park and IAR Indonesia (YIARI), partners of International Animal Rescue.
What happened?
After much hard work by everyone involved, Budi was saved and brought to YIARI’s rehabilitation centre where he has lived ever since. He attended baby school, with other orangutan youngsters who were saved, and eventually graduated up to forest school, where he learned how to climb trees, forage and so many other skills needed in the wild.
Thanks to all this work, by Budi as well as his rescuers, this incredibly resilient orangutan is finally being released into his natural habitat. Watch the touching video here, showing the moment Budi’s carers are able to send him on his way.
Charity check-in
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
The Orangutan Project. This is a project run by two non-profits with one mission: to ensure the
survival of all orangutan species in their natural habitat and promote the welfare of all orangutans. Support them here.
Orangutan Foundation. Orangutan Foundation was founded in 1990 and is saving the critically endangered orangutan by protecting their tropical forest habitat. Learn more here.
Orangutan Appeal UK. Orangutan Appeal UK is a registered charity based in the south of England, dedicated to the rehabilitation and preservation of orangutans. Find out more.
