Name sought for rescued albino orangutan

Just a few weeks ago, this rare albino orangutan was rescued from illegal captivity in a village in Borneo. Now she's set to become an ambassador for her kind as the center that rescued her calls on the public to find a name for her.

So far they've had about one thousand name suggestions, says Borneo Orangutan Survival BOS Foundation. 

"It is very rare to find an albino orangutan, and considering the significant conservation challenges wild orangutans face, we want that to be recognized in her name," said Dr. Jamartin Sihite, BOS CEO in a statement. Suggestions can be made via social mediaor email until May 14. 

The five-year-old female orangutan is being cared for at the foundation's rehabilitation center after her ordeal, which has left her physically fragile, wary of humans and with a parasitic infection. Since her arrival at the center, she has put on around 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds) and has regained her appetitive. 

"Understandably, she still has a long way to go in her recovery following the trauma of losing her mother and her illegal capture," said BOS. 

The blonde orangutan is sensitive to sunlight due to an absence of pigmentation, so vets are caring for her in a dimly lit enclosed quarantine facility, said the organization. 

Orangutans are one of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom. Their name is derived from Malay and Indonesian and literally means "man of the forest." The majority of the great apes are found in Indonesia, while around 10 percent are at home in Malaysia. 

But they're critically endangered due to habitat loss, mainly thanks to palm oil plantations, hunting and the illegal pet trade. There are only about 60,000 left in the wild.