Born in 2009, orangutan Robin was rescued from a private zoo that was closed by the authorities. Having spent most of his life in captivity, Robin has become very used to human contact. Unfortunately, he can't be released into the wild – his lack of typical orangutan behavior and his intense love interacting with humans would put him in immediate danger. Our experienced team at the ORANGUTAN FOREST SCHOOL, conducted by our partner Yayasan Jejak Pulang in cooperation with the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, therefore does everything they can to provide Robin a joyful life under their care.

They are in the process of getting additional land to build a new enclosure which will be as close to a natural habitat as possible. Until then, Robin is in their facilities, where he has access to several cages in different sizes. Each enclosure is enriched with various items that support orangutan locomotion like suspension and climbing as well as resting and privacy. Different levels and materials make sure Robin doesn't get bored. For example, right now he enjoys hammocks to rest or drums to hide. Additionally, the structures are changed every 3-6 months to give him more diversity.

In the wild, orangutans spend a lot of time searching for food in the trees and exploring their environment. Therefore, when it comes to caged animals, providing occupational enrichment and different ways in to search for food is an essential task. To ensure the psychological well being of Robin, the team provides him with occupational activities, such as food puzzles, several times per day. It is an effective way to encourage foraging behavior and to stimulate the orangutans' senses and curiosity. The puzzles are made of a variety of materials like water basins, bags, cardboard, and sawdust. Because orangutans are very intelligent and get bored quickly, our caregivers monitor Robin's interests closely to always choose the most stimulating items.

In 2019, an American expert in positive reinforcement training in great apes was invited, to instruct the caregivers. This kind of training, which is used in zoos and animal sanctuaries all over the world, is a useful tool to minimize stress for captive animals. The goal is to build a connection based on trust, voluntary cooperation and routines, instead of coercion and hostility.

The training has improved Robin’s well being as well the safety of his caregivers. Moving on command, permitting his caregivers to close doors or to touch his body for health checks and a higher willingness to cooperate in general – Robin has made great progress!

In 2019, Robin was socialized with Amalia. This was probably the first time he touched another orangutan since he lost his mother! 

Nevertheless, their socialization went well: The duo spent a long time playing rough and tumble. Robin still had to learn to control his strength, but luckily, in later socializations with Eska and Amalia, he showed that he had learned to be much more gentle.

As the other orangutans will be released into the wild, they are hoping to rescue another unreleasable orangutan who Robin not only can share the enclosure with but also find a companion in.