In 2017, an extraordinary discovery was made on the island of Borneo—the world’s only albino orangutan named Alba.
Meet Alba, the exceptional albino orangutan with her striking white fur and piercing blue eyes. She stands as the rarest and most unique ape in the entire world.
Alba was rescued from a village where she had been kept in a cage for over a year without proper care.
Her condition was deplorable. Like all albinos, her health was fragile, and she suffered from malnutrition and dehydration.
Furthermore, her eyesight and hearing had deteriorated.
It took a dedicated team from the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation an entire year to restore Alba’s health.
Remarkably, she made a remarkable recovery, prompting the decision to release her back into her natural habitat at the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
In order to facilitate her transition to the wild, the volunteers created an environment in the center that closely mimicked natural conditions.
They refrained from carrying her and allowed her to climb trees, forage for food, and build nests.
At the end of 2018, Alba, accompanied by another orangutan, was released into her native land.
Within the protected confines of the national park, Alba’s life is no longer in danger. Patrols diligently track down local poachers.
By early 2020, Alba was spotted alive and healthy, indicating her successful adaptation to the natural habitat.
However, it remains unknown whether she has formed a bond with a potential mate.
