HEARTWARMING pictures and video have been released showing a baby orangutan – whose terrible story shocked the world – bouncing with health.
Budi has been undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at an orangutan conservation centre in West Borneo since being rescued two years ago.
Budi the baby orangutan is a picture of health two years on from his rescueCredit: International Animal Rescue/Heribertus
The ape infant has been undergoing rehabilitation at a centre on BorneoCredit: International Animal Rescue/Heribertus
Rescuers found Budi in a tiny chicken coop, where he was being kept as a petCredit: International Animal Rescue
Budi spends his days in baby school at the International Animal Rescue (IAR) orangutan conservation centre in Ketapang, West Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo).
He climbs and plays with other young orangutans that were being kept as illegal pets until IAR rescued them – learning skills that will be essential if they are one day to be released back into the wild.
Budi now spends his days learning essential life skills at the International Animal Rescue centreCredit: International Animal Rescue/Heribertus
The baby orangutans need to learn how to look after themselves in the wild if they are to be releasedCredit: International Animal Rescue/Heribertus
Little Budi must learn to climb and forage for himself in order to survive in the forestCredit: International Animal Rescue/Heribertus
Baby orangutans stay with their mothers in the wild for up to eight years, learning important skillsCredit: International Animal Rescue/Heribertus
Orangutan mothers teach their babies what food to eat, how to build nests and what dangers to avoidCredit: International Animal Rescue/Heribertus
At the time, vet Karmele Llano Sanchez, IAR’s programme director in Indonesia, said: “We cannot even begin to imagine how much pain this small baby has suffered.
The infant is taught how to climb, where to find food, what foods to eat, how to build a nest in the tree canopy to sleep in and what dangers to avoid.
Budi was too weak to move when he was rescued, having been fed only condensed milk for his entire 10-month lifeCredit: International Animal Rescue
Budi squealed in pain when he was moved because of his swollen limbsCredit: International Animal Rescue
Alan Knight OBE, CEO of IAR, said: “This video of Budi is an uplifting and joyful one.
“It shows that even orangutans as sick and malnourished as he was can bounce back and grow healthy and strong.
“We are full of hope that Budi and all his young friends will one day be able to return to the forest and live as nature intended.
“However, sadly there are many challenges facing wild orangutans in Borneo and the species needs all the help it can get if it is to survive.”