After climbing Mt Kinabalu we have a day recovering before heading deeper into Borneo to visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The centre only allows visitors to watch the supplementary feeds of recently released orangutans, which emphasizes its role as a rehabilitation centre, not a zoo.
Most of the orangutans brought to the centre are babies - either found in the jungle alone after their mother has been killed by poachers, or found in cages as pets. Some adults are brought in starving as a result of deforestation. On the way to Sepilok we drive past huge palm oil plantations where there should have been jungle, leaving no food or shelter for the orangutans. The orangutan population has gone from 27, 000 to 15, 000 in just ten years.
All orangutans brought to the centre recieve a medical. Adults are rehabilitated as soon as possible, but babies require up to eight yeara of care. They need to be bottle fed, kept warm, taught how to climb and how to interact wih the jungle and with other orangutans. Once they are old enough, the begin to explore the immediate jungle surrounding the centre, eventually choosing to sleep outside rather than return every night. Most come back for supplementary feedings of fruit and milk while some leave forever.
Most of the orangutans brought to the centre are babies - either found in the jungle alone after their mother has been killed by poachers, or found in cages as pets. Some adults are brought in starving as a result of deforestation. On the way to Sepilok we drive past huge palm oil plantations where there should have been jungle, leaving no food or shelter for the orangutans. The orangutan population has gone from 27, 000 to 15, 000 in just ten years.
Above: A helpul Orangutan carrying the milk dish.
All orangutans brought to the centre recieve a medical. Adults are rehabilitated as soon as possible, but babies require up to eight yeara of care. They need to be bottle fed, kept warm, taught how to climb and how to interact wih the jungle and with other orangutans. Once they are old enough, the begin to explore the immediate jungle surrounding the centre, eventually choosing to sleep outside rather than return every night. Most come back for supplementary feedings of fruit and milk while some leave forever.
Above: The Orangutans don't seem to distinguish between what we would call their legs/feet and arms/hands. They just have four limbs, using all of them to eat, climb, walk and gesture.
Hi Imogen,
ReplyDeleteJust spent a very pleasant hour catching up on your blog. Your trip is looking good! love Amanda x