Manis the orangutan gained international fame in 2015 when a video of her being rescued from a palm oil plantation went viral. The baby orangutan was rescued by International Animal Rescue (IAR) in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, and was given the name Manis, which means sweet in Indonesian. The video showed Manis clinging to a tree while crying out for her mother, who was likely killed by plantation workers.
Manis quickly became a symbol of the devastating effects of palm oil plantations on wildlife in Indonesia. The country is the world’s largest producer of palm oil, and the industry has been responsible for the destruction of millions of acres of rainforest and the displacement of countless animals, including orangutans.
After her rescue, Manis was taken to IAR’s orangutan rehabilitation center in Ketapang, where she was given medical treatment and round-the-clock care. Over the next few years, she learned how to climb trees, forage for food, and interact with other orangutans in the center.
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The Release of Manis Back to the Wild
In 2018, after three years of rehabilitation, Manis was finally deemed ready for release back into the wild. She was fitted with a radio collar and transported to the forest of Gunung Tarak in West Kalimantan, where she was released into the wild.
Her release was a major success for IAR, which has been working tirelessly to rescue and rehabilitate orangutans in Indonesia for decades. The organization has released hundreds of orangutans back into the wild over the years, but Manis was one of their most high-profile cases.
Manis’s Life in the Wild
Since her release, there have been sporadic sightings of Manis in the forest. She was last spotted by IAR’s team in May 2022, almost four years after her release. According to the team, she appeared to be healthy and thriving in her natural habitat.
However, as with all wild animals, Manis’s life is fraught with danger. Orangutans in Indonesia face numerous threats, including habitat loss, hunting, and the illegal pet trade. While Manis’s radio collar allows IAR’s team to track her movements, it cannot protect her from all the risks she faces in the wild.
What Can We Learn from Manis’s Story?
Manis’s story is a poignant reminder of the devastating effects of palm oil plantations on wildlife in Indonesia. It is estimated that the equivalent of six football fields of rainforest are destroyed every minute in Indonesia to make way for palm oil plantations. This destruction not only threatens the survival of orangutans but also countless other species, including tigers, elephants, and rhinos.
However, Manis’s story also shows us that there is hope. With the help of organizations like IAR, it is possible to rescue and rehabilitate orangutans and release them back into the wild. And with increased awareness and pressure on palm oil companies to adopt sustainable practices, there is hope that the destruction of rainforests can be slowed or even stopped.
Conclusion
While we cannot say for certain whether Manis is still alive, the fact that she was last spotted in May 2022 is a positive sign. Her story has brought much-needed attention to the plight of orangutans in Indonesia and the importance of protecting their habitat. Let us hope that Manis continues to thrive in the wild and that her story inspires us all to take action to protect these incredible animals.