Orphaned Baby Orangutan Rescued After Spending 6 Months in a ‘Tiny Cage’ and ‘Unthinkable’ Conditions

A baby orangutan has been rescued and is “on the road to recovery” after he was kept in a “tiny cage” amid “unthinkable” conditions for six months.

In an Instagram post on Jan. 8, The Orangutan Project (TOP), an international orangutan welfare organization, detailed that the “precious boy” arrived at their rescue center in East Borneo, Indonesia, after he was rescued by the Ministry of Forestry and the organization’s the Borneo Orangutan Rescue Alliance (BORA) team.

“For over 6 months, he was kept illegally in a tiny cage by villagers. He has wounds on his head and fingers from rocking and banging his head on the cage. The trauma he has gone through is unthinkable,” the post from TOP read.

Then detailing that the young animal was being treated for a fever and anemia, the organization said they were “hopeful he will make a full recovery.”

In a February update on their blog, TOP said that the orangutan — who has since been named Felix — is “healing beautifully” and his “health is steadily improving.”

“With a healthy appetite for milk, bananas and tomatoes, he’s gaining strength every day. Felix has also begun to settle into his new environment, finding comfort in the gentle care and affection of his babysitters,” the group wrote on the blog.

TOP also said that Felix will soon join other orphaned orangutans at their Jungle School, where he “will learn forest skills to survive on his own once released back in the wild.”

“From climbing to foraging, these lessons are crucial steps in his journey back to freedom,” TOP continued in the blog post, adding that while “Felix’s path will be long,” his “resilience” and the “unwavering support” of organization donors gives them “every reason” to believe he will thrive.

Orangutans are currently listed as “critically endangered,” which is the highest level of endangerment possible for animals in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The Smithsonian’s Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute explains this is primarily due to habitat loss from timber harvesting and palm oil agriculture. Additionally, they note that the illegal pet trade is “booming” in Southeast Asia and “infant orangutans are very popular pets.”

Those interested in donating to help support TOP and help animals like Felix can do so here.