On the morning of Wednesday, 5 August 2026, at around 8.30am, our government partners BKSDA received a call that always makes our hearts sink – an infant orangutan was being kept as a pet.
Momi with government official
It was the resident keeping the orangutan that phoned; fortunately, he had made the decision to handover the infant to receive the care it needed. After a quick routine exchange of relevant information, officers headed straight to the resident.
The team reached him quickly, but there was a small logistical puzzle to solve first: the resident was in a nearby town, whilst the young orangutan was in another village some distance away. After a short back-and-forth, they agreed on a plan: the handover would happen later that same day at 5 p.m.
Infant orangutans should be in the wild living by their mothers side for up to 8 years. So the question is – how did this one end up being torn from its natural life?
Momi with residents at handover
The resident explained that he and some colleagues had come across the orangutan about a week earlier while visiting a third community further away. Individuals there had reportedly been keeping the orangutan and this resident - aware that orangutans are a protected species native only to Borneo - made the decision to secure the infant and arrange for it’s handover to the authorities.
This case shows that by raising awareness of how critical orangutans are for the forest, we can help ensure that orphans and displaced individuals have a second chance. But clearly, this message needs to spread even further – our education and community outreach programme must be ongoing.
Residents signing over documents with government officials for Momi’s handover
Once handed over, the infant received a routine veterinary check to ensure it was in good health. It was found to be a healthy male, roughly 11 months old based on his teeth formation.
Momi’s health check
Sometimes, orangutans can be considered as pests – especially if they venture into agricultural plantations – and are shot with air rifles. In these rare cases, the mother is unfortunately killed and the infant is left orphaned. Tiny, sweet and somewhat familiar of a human baby, they seem to be the ideal pet. Fortunately, in this case no wounds or air rifle pets were found on the infants body, but it does mean fate of its mother will therefore never be determined.
This young orangutan is now called Momi. He is in the safe hands of the government environmental agency whilst his next steps are decided.
At 11 months old, Momi should still be clinging to his mother, learning which fruits to eat and how to build a nest from the treetops of Borneo's forests. Instead, his early months were spent far from the canopy – in a home that was not his own. Thanks to a resident who did the right thing and a team who moved fast, Momi now has a second chance and is one step closer to the wild.
