Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Throwback to the Rescue of Kotap the Orangutan (2017)
After two long years trapped inside a dark wooden box in West Borneo, a young orangutan named Kotap finally saw the light of day again. When our partners, YIARI, and officials from the forestry department (BKSDA) found him, Kotap had nothing but a plastic bottle and a straw to keep him company.
At just four years old, Kotap had already spent half his life in total isolation. His "owner" claimed to be “caring” for him and fed him instant noodles and sugary drinks. But when the rescue team arrived, Kotap was terrified. He pressed himself into the back of the box, afraid of the light, the noise, and the unfamiliar world outside.
Thanks to the dedication of our partners at YIARI, Kotap was rescued and brought to our orangutan rescue center for urgent care and rehabilitation. There he began to heal and rediscover the life every orangutan deserves: climbing, playing, and feeling the sun on his face once again.
Alan Knight, Chief Executive of International Animal Rescue, said, “At four years old, Kotap should still have been with his mother, learning how to survive in the wild. Instead, he lived a sad and solitary existence. Thankfully, now he will join other rescued orangutans at our center and be given a chance to return to the forest where he belongs.”
Kotap’s story is a powerful reminder of why orangutan conservation and animal rescue are so important. Every animal deserves freedom, safety, and a life in the wild, not behind bars or in a box.
Throwback to the Rescue of Kotap the Orangutan (2017)
After two long years trapped inside a dark wooden box in West Borneo, a young orangutan named Kotap finally saw the light of day again. When our partners, YIARI, and officials from the forestry department (BKSDA) found him, Kotap had nothing but a plastic bottle and a straw to keep him company.
At just four years old, Kotap had already spent half his life in total isolation. His "owner" claimed to be “caring” for him and fed him instant noodles and sugary drinks. But when the rescue team arrived, Kotap was terrified. He pressed himself into the back of the box, afraid of the light, the noise, and the unfamiliar world outside.
Thanks to the dedication of our partners at YIARI, Kotap was rescued and brought to our orangutan rescue center for urgent care and rehabilitation. There he began to heal and rediscover the life every orangutan deserves: climbing, playing, and feeling the sun on his face once again.
Alan Knight, Chief Executive of International Animal Rescue, said, “At four years old, Kotap should still have been with his mother, learning how to survive in the wild. Instead, he lived a sad and solitary existence. Thankfully, now he will join other rescued orangutans at our center and be given a chance to return to the forest where he belongs.”
Kotap’s story is a powerful reminder of why orangutan conservation and animal rescue are so important. Every animal deserves freedom, safety, and a life in the wild, not behind bars or in a box.
