At 12 years old, Rahayu is thriving on Ali Island, run by our friends at Yayasan International Animal Rescue, Indonesia. She is becoming more adventurous and independent.
Beautiful Rahayu relaxing in the canopy
While she often used to be content just sitting around, she’s now exploring and foraging more—though she still can’t resist sweet potatoes and corn from her keepers!
Rahayu shares a special bond with her best friend, Untek—they’re rarely seen apart, resting and playing together. But when food is involved, her dominant streak shines through, making sure she gets her fair share. Despite this, she’s a social orangutan who interacts well with the whole group.
She still often prefers life on the ground rather than the treetops, but her foraging skills are improving, with mensirak flowers and simpur bark now on her menu. She loves enrichment activities, eagerly tackling peanut-filled sacks and log puzzles. When it comes to nesting, Rahayu has her own style—she prefers recycling and upgrading old nests rather than starting from scratch. Usually, she’ll only make one nest a day, right before bedtime, and she likes to settle down for the night after her evening meal.
Health-wise, Rahayu has been doing well, with only one off day where she chose to stay in her nest and rest. The orangutan keepers kept a close eye on her, but she was back to her busy self the next day. She may not be fully independent yet, but Rahayu is making steady progress, showing both confidence and charisma as she navigates life in the wild. Thanks to your support, she’s continuing to grow into a strong and fascinating orangutan. Rahayu continues to show promise as she learns the ways of the wild!
