Wild orangutans are captured and relocated (wild-to-wild translocation) in Indonesia and Malaysia when at risk of conflict with humans or encountered in areas considered unsuitable. The IUCN Section on Great Apes developed guidelines to identify circumstances where responsible conservation translocation is advisable. We collected records on 981 orangutans captured for translocation in Indonesia from 2005-2022 and visualized annual forest changes around capture sites (n=120 sites with GPS coordinates). We also surveyed orangutan translocation practitioners and stakeholders (n=21 responses from 180 invitees). At the 120 sites reviewed, forest cover typically did not decline dramatically in the year prior to capture (3% median loss compared to the previous year), and the orangutan was captured from forested blocks or had easy access to forests. Unless seriously injured or ill, these orangutans could have dispersed or survived in situ if undisturbed. Translocations were primarily driven by community member requests to forestall orangutan crop foraging. Most survey respondents (71%) thought healthy orangutans should not be translocated, but the preponderance of captured orangutans (82%) were healthy (n=798 with health information). Nineteen percent of survey respondents reported they cannot refuse government requests to translocate an animal, regardless of its condition. Deforestation, killing, and wild-to-wild translocation is driving losses of orangutans and forest habitats, indicating new approaches are urgently needed to conserve forests and improve acceptance of orangutans in habitats shared with humans. The IUCN guidelines urge a precautionary approach to protect most orangutans in situ, with translocations focused on rescuing orangutans whose lives are at immediate risk.