Rescue
Rare Albino Orangutan Has Man-Made Island
Meet Alba - a very, very special girl.
Ashley Fike
01.25.18

They say that primates are humans’ closest relatives. Just like us, they have unique personalities and characteristics. One orangutan, however, is more special than you could ever imagine.

Meet Alba. She is the world’s only known albino orangutan and will soon be getting her very own protected tropical island.

BOS Foundation via YouTube
Source:
BOS Foundation via YouTube

Alba received her name through a naming contest back in May of 2017 through the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. Fittingly, ‘Alba’ is the Latin word for ‘white.’ She was rescued in April of 2017 via a joint effort with the BOS Foundation and the Central Kalimantan Natural Resource Conservation Agency in Indonesia.

The special orangutan has led a good life so far; however, after her rescue, she gained national attention and people were concerned about her well-being and longevity of life. So, the rescue groups put together an ingenious plan to help protect her.

Due to her albinism, Alba is at risk of health complications including hearing problems, poor eyesight, and skin cancer. She is also more vulnerable to hunting because of her unique lack of pigmentation.

BOS Foundation via YouTube
Source:
BOS Foundation via YouTube

Because of these potential threats, the BOS Foundation created a special 10-hectare man-made island for her to live in complete freedom without worry of peril.

Alba will be moving to her personal island in paradise in June of 2018, along with three other orangutan friends. Radmala (a 4-year-old female), Kika (a 6-year-old female), and Unyu (a 4-year-old male) will be living with Alba in the protected forest. All three of these orangutans have been introduced to Alba, and they all get along wonderfully.

BOS Foundation
Source:
BOS Foundation

Once the albino orangutan and her three furry friends are on the man-made island, they will be monitored 24 hours a day and have constant security. Staff plans on conducting regular patrols, as well as collecting data on their health and behavior.

Construction of Alba’s private island in Indonesia is currently under works and is near completion.

BOS Foundation
Source:
BOS Foundation

The canal that serves as a natural border for the orangutans’ island was completed in 2017, and the security and monitoring infrastructure is currently under construction. The staff is also building two feeding platforms in which supplementary food will be provided twice a day for the primates.

The BOS Foundation is hoping to continue to collect donations for Alba’s new home. The collected money will help build additional security posts, as well as fund the orangutans’ daily needs — like medical care for Alba. If you’d like to donate, you can do so here.

Thanks to the amazing efforts of the BOS Foundation, Alba can lead a long, healthy, and happy life away from human threats. Learn more about Alba and her future home in the video below.

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