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Perth's Nyaru The Orangutan Set Free In Indonesian Rainforest Home

The eight-year-old from Perth is on his own now.
Perth Zoo's Orangutan Nyaru has gone home to Sumatra.
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Perth Zoo's Orangutan Nyaru has gone home to Sumatra.

An orangutan born at Perth Zoo has completed his long journey to his home habitat of Indonesia, with the 8-year-old finally released into Sumatran rainforest.

The much-loved primate, known as Nyaru, was this week let free into the wilderness after reportedly spending 12 weeks in a sanctuary to get ready for freedom.

His supervisor, Holly Thompson, told AAP the orangutan was going "exceptionally well" at Bukit Tigapulah and was enjoying the jungle canopy.

"It was amazing to see Nyaru leave his transport crate and climb straight up the tree then meet another orangutan for the first time," she is quoted as saying.

Nyaru is said to have had contact with just 1 real-life tree at Perth Zoo and so his easy transition into the wild has been a pleasing one for all involved.

Nyaru has been fitted with a radio transmitter so that biologists can track him for up to 2 years through his new rainforest home.

Perth Zoo is the only zoo in the world releasing Sumatran orangutans into the wild, the ABC reports.

Nyaru is the third to be released from the zoo since its involvement with the Bukit Tigapuluh landscape conservation program.

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