( CNN ) Budi , an adorable baby orangutan , is on the road to recovery after an animal shelter in Indonesia rescued him . The 15-month-old was on the brink of death after he was kept in a chicken cage and fed nothing but condensed milk for the first year of his life . He had been kept as a pet in Ketapang , Indonesia , his caretakers said . Now Budi is well enough to eat on his own , walk and climb . `` After weeks of physiotherapy , medical treatment and a nutritious diet , Budi 's muscles are developing well , '' said United Kingdom-based International Animal Rescue . But Budi 's development remains slow due to the extreme malnutrition , his caretakers said . Budi was in quarantine for awhile , they said , but has been introduced to another infant orangutan , Jemmi , rescued by another shelter . Neither orangutan had met another animal of its kind since being taken from their mothers just after birth , and they eyed each other with curiosity . When Budi arrived at International Animal Rescue 's Orangutan Rescue Center in Ketapang , his condition was extremely critical . His body was swollen with fluid due to a severe lack of protein . His limbs were misshapen because he was never fed properly . Budi 's `` eyes fill with tears ever time he 's moved by the doctors and he screams in pain , '' said Dr. Karmele Llano Sanchez , International Animal Rescue 's program director in Indonesia . `` It 's really amazing that Budi has been able to survive this long . '' It 's unclear how Budi became someone 's pet , said Dr. Ayu Handayani . The owner said that she was afraid to give the animal any fruit and believed that giving Budi only condensed milk was enough , Handayani said . Eventually , the caretakers said , when Budi is strong enough , he will be released into the wild .
15-month-old Budi was kept as a pet in Indonesia and was fed only condensed milk . When Budi arrived at shelter , his eyes welled with tears and he screamed in pain . The animal rights group PETA has been campaigning for the release of Budi since 2012 after receiving reports that he had suffered severe abuse during transport to Indonesia.