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

Orangutan who lost his arms when he suffered an electric shock while fleeing his captors has learned how to climb and find food using only his legs as he prepares for freedom

  • Orangutan Kopral was electrocuted when trying to flee his captors in Indonesia
  • He was brought under the care of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation who taught him key skills
  • He now lives in an island complex in Samboja Lestari which resembles a natural environment

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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.

Korpral was electrocuted when he climbed an electricity pylon in a bid to escape captors in Indonesia

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.’

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.  

Kopral has beaten the odds to learn how to climb trees again despire his condition

Kopral won't be able to enter the wild but can now lead a fairly independent life

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

‘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.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk