I am so thrilled to introduce you to this month's APE Achiever - the beautiful, brave and cheeky Asih.
Her journey has been one of heartbreak, resilience, and extraordinary courage. And thanks to your kindness and generosity, she is thriving.
For those who have followed Asih's story, you know it has not been an easy road. She has faced loss, upheaval, and change. But through it all, Asih has shown a quiet, unshakeable strength that continues to move everyone who meets her. And recently, I made the long journey to Siranggas Wildlife Sanctuary in North Sumatra to see how far she had truly come.
Asih soon after arriving at Siranggas with vet Tere.
A Long Road to Siranggas
Getting to Asih is no small feat. Three flights, an eight-hour drive, an overnight stay, and an early morning start later - I finally arrived at Siranggas. But every single hour of that journey was worth it.
Siranggas is breathtaking. Cool, misty, and alive with the sounds of the forest - the calls of gibbons echoing through the trees as the mist rolled across the canopy. The team's jungle camp sits nestled right in the heart of it all, a simple but beautiful wooden cabin perched among the trees, with steps carved into the hillside and the forest pressing in from every direction.
And the view from camp? Absolutely extraordinary - layers of mist drifting across mountain ridges and a canopy of green stretching as far as the eye can see, bathed in the soft glow of an early morning sunrise. It is the kind of place that reminds you exactly why this work matters. It is exactly the kind of rich, wild environment that Asih deserves, and seeing her there felt like watching a puzzle piece finally fall into place.
The jungle camp and stunning view at Siranggas.
As always, my suitcase was packed to the brim - not with clothes, but with enrichment toys and medical supplies. Kongs, feeder balls, soft toys, microchip scanners, and supplements - because when you visit orangutans, you always come prepared!
Asih in the Forest
I wish you could have joined me in the forest and watched Asih at Jungle School. She was in absolutely magnificent condition - her coat thick, luscious, and beautiful. She was strong, active, and utterly at home in the trees.
When she first noticed me, her curiosity was immediate. She came straight over to investigate this new person in her forest, and I have to be honest - I was overwhelmed with emotion. It is one thing to read updates and watch videos from afar. It is another thing entirely to look into the eyes of an orangutan who has been through so much and see with your own eyes just how far she has truly come.
Once the novelty of meeting me wore off, of course, Asih had far more important things to attend to - climbing, foraging, and exploring her forest with growing confidence. As it should be! 🌿
Beautiful Asih exploring her new forest surroundings.
A Piggyback and a Prickle
At the end of a big day in the forest, I was honoured to be chosen as Asih's ride back to her night enclosure. And let me tell you, at a very healthy 19kg, it was absolutely a jungle workout for me! 💪🦧 She settled in beautifully for the evening, tucking into her dinner and crafting a cosy nest from leafy branches like the forest expert she is becoming. Check out this beautiful video of Asih preparing for bed.
The second day in the jungle brought one of the most touching moments of my entire trip. Asih got a prickle stuck in her foot, and it was clearly causing her discomfort. Rather than retreating, she came straight over and sat down next to me on a log - showing me her foot, as if to say, I trust you to help me. She stayed calm and still while my colleague Yuyun carefully worked to remove it, with my gentle reassurance throughout. It was a moment of pure connection that I will carry with me for a very long time. 🧡 And thankfully one of my colleagues captured the moment on video.
A Future Worth Fighting For
It was also wonderful to see the infrastructure at Siranggas that your support has made possible - the orangutan night enclosures, staff accommodation, food storage area, and the dedicated team of carers who show up for Asih every single day. Meeting the staff and witnessing their commitment firsthand was truly humbling.
The amazing team at Siranggas.
Asih is now fine-tuning her jungle skills - climbing, foraging, building nests, and learning the rhythms of the forest - as she prepares for the next great chapter of her life: release back into the wild where she belongs.
Asih is a beautiful soul. And she could not have come this far without you.
To everyone who has supported Asih, donated, or chosen to adopt her - thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are the reason she is climbing high in that misty forest, finding her way home. 🌿🦧🧡
With thanks,
Kylie Bullo
Conservation Project Manager
The Orangutan Project
Program: APE Champion Team
Location: North Sumatra, Indonesia
Run by: This program is a collaboration with our partners at Centre for Orangutan Protection and the Ministry of Forestry 🌳