Jakarta.  A long-distance match made in the name of conservation is about to make its public debut in Japan. Jenifer, a female Bornean orangutan from Indonesia, will be formally introduced alongside Hayato, a Japan-born male orangutan, at Tobe Zoo in Ehime Prefecture this weekend.

The Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo said the "Jenifer & Hayato Unveiling Ceremony" is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, and will symbolize the two countries' shared commitment to protecting endangered wildlife and promoting biodiversity conservation.

Jenifer arrived from Indonesia in December 2025 under an international collaborative breeding loan program involving Taman Safari Indonesia and Tobe Zoo. After completing a quarantine and adaptation period, she is set to make her first public appearance with Hayato, who was born and raised in Japan as part of the zoo's conservation efforts.

The pair is expected to play an important role in the international breeding program for Bornean orangutans, a critically threatened species whose population continues to decline because of habitat loss and deforestation.

The event is also designed to strengthen cultural ties between Indonesia and Japan through environmental education and public engagement. Visitors will be treated to a showcase of Indonesian culture, including angklung performances, traditional dances, Indonesian cuisine, traditional costume photo sessions, and live art demonstrations.

Jenifer and Hayato have already become local celebrities in Japan after being featured on a limited-edition commemorative stamp series issued by Japan Post's Shikoku branch.

The stamps, which went on sale on June 2, feature the two Bornean orangutans as their main design, alongside Didi, a Sumatran orangutan raised through a special care program at Tobe Zoo. A total of 300 stamp sheets are being sold through post offices across Ehime Prefecture and the wider Shikoku region, with limited online availability.

The special edition stamps highlight the growing conservation partnership between Indonesia and Japan, using the iconic great apes as ambassadors for environmental awareness and cross-border cooperation.

Ehime Governor Tokihiro Nakamura has praised the initiative, describing Indonesia's orangutans as "very cute and fascinating animals" that have captured the public's imagination.

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