Every orangutan has a distinct personality and unique physical characteristics that differentiate one to another. Their body size, facial features, and special characteristics are a few of the ways that the field staff use to identify orangutans in Lamandau Wildlife Reserve - Timtom is known for her beautiful hair.

At around 8-years-old, female orangutan Timtom’s red hair is so glossy it could be used as an advertisement for hair colour. Her long, shiny, healthy hair is due to good nutrition and little experience of stress factors. Good nutrition improves her health and growth.

Timtom likes to forage the trees and play around, especially splashing in the water on the riverbank. Even though orangutans her age usually live independently, Timtom still has not met the necessary skills needed to be released back into the wild, and needs more time to master these, particularly nest-building. These shortcomings in forest skills and behaviour are due to the time she spent in captivity as an illegal pet. Keeping an orangutan as a pet in the early stages of their life can change their natural behaviour, and it takes a long time for an ex-captive orangutan to master their forest skills.

Timtom was rescued at only 9-months-old, and needed a human carer as she was too used to human presence. However, as soon as she was on a tree, her climbing skills were instinctive. The older she got, the more orangutans she interacted with and learnt from. Not an easy journey to freedom but progress is being made, step by step.

At Camp Buluh, camp staff routinely take Timtom to practice in the forest across the river, where she stays overnight. When brought to the forest, she plays on the riverbank before entering the trees. She swings confidently through the canopy, explores the forest, forages for food, and then plays again. Timtom still has not attempted to build a nest, so she sleeps on a tree branch, or if she finds an old nest left by another orangutan, she will sleep in there instead.

According to the veterinary team, Timtom is in good health. It is always interesting to see how young orangutans progress on their soft-release journey. We hope Timtom will continue to make good progress and can return to the wild soon.