Orangutan with no arms learns how to climb trees again using only his legs

An orangutan who lost both his arms trying to escape captors has finally ‘graduated’ from ‘Forest School’ after learning the skills he needs to survive.

Kopral was electrocuted when he climbed an electricity pylon in a bid to escape captors who had been keeping him in a cage in Indonesia as a pet since he was a baby.

The youngster was brought to the East Kalimantan Orangutan Reintroduction Program in Indonesia by taxi, but sadly his arms were severely burnt and rotting and nothing could be done to save them. 

Orangutan Kopral who lost both his arms trying to escape captors has finally ‘graduated’ from ‘Forest School’ after learning the skills he needs to survive

Korpral was electrocuted when he climbed an electricity pylon in a bid to escape captors in Indonesia. He was electrocuted and both of his arms then had to be taken off after they were left badly burnt

Korpal was brought to the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation where he learnt to climb trees using only his feet

It can take up to seven years to rehabilite orangutans at the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation

A spokesperson from the Bornero Orangutan Survival Foundation has said that they are pleased with Kopral’s progress

Despite his horrific start in life, under the care of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, Kopral excelled in ‘Forest School’ – a rehabilitation programme designed to teach orangutans how to build nests, climb trees, select appropriate natural foods and recognise natural predators.

And now the thriving orangutan, who has learnt to climb trees and forage for food using only his legs, has moved to an island complex in Samboja Lestari – an environment that resembles his natural habitat. 

 A spokesperson from the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation said: ‘As a baby, Kopral was kept as a caged pet until he escaped, climbing an electricity pylon that electrocuted him and severely burned his arms.

‘Sadly, his condition was so severe that both of his arms had to be amputated when he arrived.

It can take up to seven years to rehabilite orangutans at the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation

Kopral the orangutan was rescued from his captors and having been rehabilitated he is thriving

Kopral now lives in an island complex in Samboja Lestari which resembles a natural environment

‘Despite this, he was a star pupil at Forest School, climbing trees and building nests with his feet and mouth.’

Kopral now climbs trees and builds nests using his feet and mouth after losing both of his arms in the tragic incident

A spokesperson from the Bornero Orangutan Survival Foundation has said that they are pleased with Kopral’s progress

He added that the majority of the orangutans who enter their facilities are very young, so in need of orangutan-peer interaction and daily lessons on forest survival that span different levesl from ‘Baby School’ to ‘Forest School’. He said rehabilitation can take up to seven years but that Kopral had been thiriving.

‘His physical disadvantage means that he can never be released to the forest, for his own safety.

‘However, Kopral has mastered the ability to climb trees and forage for natural food using only his legs. This has allowed him to develop into a relatively independent individual. 

 ‘Our technicians and medical team are convinced that Kopral will be able to spend his days on the island without issue.’

‘Kopral has mastered the ability to climb trees and forage for natural food using only his legs. This has allowed him to develop into a relatively independent individual,’ a spokesperson from the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation has said

Kopral was moved to an island complex after graduating ‘Forest School’ and learning the skills he needs to survive

Because of the severity of his condition, both his arms had to be amputated on arrival to the Foundation