This is my last Orangutan of the Month article and the choice was clear: Eric. Eric first caught my eye when he was introduced to me by a fellow volunteer. She told me there was something different about him. My interest was piqued and I began to spend time with him. Eric quickly became a… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Eric
Author: Britta Nelson
Sustainable Agriculture for Orangutans
You may already know that Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) is dedicated to orangutan research and rehabilitation but you may be surprised to learn that we have expanded our research focus to include sustainable agriculture. OFI’s Orangutan Care Centre and Quarantine (OCCQ) is located in Pasir Panjang, Kalimantan – a small village just outside of the… Continue reading Sustainable Agriculture for Orangutans
Orangutan of the Month: Maxine
Maxine is one of the most clever orangutans I have met at the Orangutan Care Centre and Quarantine (OCCQ). One would guess that her favourite enrichment item would be a complex puzzle feeder or an intricately wrapped parcel of leaves but Maxine prefers a simple burlap sack. While other orangutans often rip apart burlap sacks,… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Maxine
Waiter, there is a bird nest in my soup!
Bird’s nest soup is a Chinese delicacy that has been consumed for thousands of years dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). Bird nests, believed to have medicinal properties, were collected from cliff-side caverns to use as an ingredient for soup, tonics, and other elixirs. Because the collection of nests was a difficult… Continue reading Waiter, there is a bird nest in my soup!
Zircon: A New Threat to the Forests of Borneo
If you asked what the biggest threat orangutans were facing ten years ago, the answer would have been illegal logging. Today, the biggest threat is the palm oil industry. But what about ten years from now? The answer just might be zircon in certain areas. While OFI is working to ensure there are orangutans in… Continue reading Zircon: A New Threat to the Forests of Borneo
Orangutan of the Month: Uttuh
I have chosen Uttuh (pronounced “oo-too”) to be Orangutan of the Month for one simple reason: her eyes. Really they are little different from the eyes of any other infant orangutan at the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) except for dazzling white rings that circle her irises. Her eyes are absolutely stunning. So is… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Uttuh
OFI’s own Enrichment Coordinator presents in Oregon
OFI at the International Conference for Environmental Enrichment This August OFI was proud to participate in the 10th International Conference for Environmental Enrichment (ICEE) hosted by the Oregon Zoo and the Oregon National Primate Research Center in Portland, Oregon. Organized by The Shape of Enrichment, ICEE is an annual conference where individuals and organizations from… Continue reading OFI’s own Enrichment Coordinator presents in Oregon
Orangutan of the Month: Lear
All Hail King Lear! He may not be king of the forest, but he is king of the playground! At six years of age, Lear is quite the character! I have spent some time at the playground where five and six year old orangutans play and I can tell you there is something special about… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Lear
Orangutan of the Month: Boy
Boy Oh boy! At approximately 140 kilograms (300 pounds), Boy is definitely the “big man” at OFI’s Orangutan Care Centre and Quarantine (OCCQ). Not much of Boy’s history is known but his fully developed cheek pads tell us that he is at least 20 years old. Male Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) demonstrate arrested development; they… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Boy
Orangutan of the Month: Luna
I am so pleased that I was able to choose Luna as my first Orangutan of the Month. Luna is a very small, one-year-old orangutan who looks more like a newborn infant but with teeth! Luna first came to OFI’s Care Centre and Quarantine (OCCQ) in June. She was confiscated by the Forestry’s Department of… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Luna