We are thrilled to share wonderful news with you—Mary has been released into the lush Busang ecosystem in East Borneo! Since joining our adoption family in 2019, Mary has been on an incredible journey, and we know you’ll share in our joy as she returns to her true jungle home.
Mary's first taste of freedom as she makes her way into the canopy
A Look Back at Mary’s Journey
Mary’s story began in February 2019, when our BORA team rescued her from Longgie, Berau, in East Borneo. Villagers had kept her illegally since November 2018, claiming they found her wandering near a main road and took her in out of pity. Unfortunately, Mary was confined to a tiny wooden cage measuring just 1.5m x 1m and fed an inappropriate diet of rice, tempeh, and fish. At only one to two years old, Mary endured great trauma—likely witnessing the tragic loss of her mother before being kept in such deplorable conditions. Yet, her resilience shone through.
Little Mary in her wooden prison and on her way to our rescue centre
When she arrived at our BORA rescue centre on February 19, 2019, weighing just 6kg, Mary showed promising signs of her wild instincts. During quarantine, she was agile and eager to climb and even built nests with the branches and leaves provided by her carers.
After quarantine, Mary thrived at Jungle School. She particularly loved playing with her new friends including Happi and Popi as this delightful video shows.
Mary embraced the opportunity to climb, explore, and develop vital forest skills whilst at Jungle School. Over the years, her confidence grew, and her keepers often found it challenging to coax her back into her enclosure at night! Mary had a healthy appetite and particularly loved watermelon.
Mary hitching a ride to Jungle School and having fun in the canopy
In October 2024, Mary and her close friend Jojo reached an exciting milestone in their rehabilitation—they were moved to a forested pre-release island to join Bonti. For three months, the trio fine-tuned their forest skills, including nest-building, and built up their physical fitness in preparation for release.
The Big Day: Mary’s Return to Freedom
On January 10, 2025, Mary, Jojo, and Bonti embarked on a long journey to their new home in the Busang ecosystem. After 10 hours by road and three hours by boat, they arrived safely, accompanied by their favourite keepers and veterinary staff. When the moment came, Mary wasted no time stepping out of her crate and into the forest canopy she had always dreamed of.
In true Mary fashion, she even ventured over to Jojo’s release area and cheekily broke the celebration banner! You can watch her cheeky antics here.
The team watched with pride as Mary explored the treetops, foraged for forest foods, and built a secure, high nest for her very first night in the wild. Mary and Jojo have remained close, often seen playing and resting together—a heartwarming reminder of their close bond.
Thank You for Making This Possible
Mary’s journey from rescue to freedom is a testament to her adopters’ compassion and generosity. Thank you! She now has the life she was meant to live—a free and natural life in the forest.