Author: Guest

Hockey’s Special Needs

Hockey’s Special Needs by Allison Leach “Special” is indeed the word that first comes to mind when thinking of the orangutan Hockey.  She came to the OFI Care Center as an orphan, like many other orangutans.  But unfortunately, her sensitive nature, in both spirit and body, left her vulnerable to a crippling stroke suffered before… Continue reading Hockey’s Special Needs

Orangutan of the Month for Nov, 2018: Caca

Caca by Emi Kusayanagi It’s another hot and sunny morning at the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) in Central Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia. At Camp Danielle, the youngest orangutans under the care of Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) staff are out in the Infant Playground and Learning Forest. At the playground, the little orangutans are everywhere,… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month for Nov, 2018: Caca

Orangutan Awareness Week!

November 4-10 Orangutan Awareness Week (OAW) was first established by OFI in 1996 to honor the establishment of Camp Leakey during the first week of November in 1971. What began as a memorial to honor Dr. Birute Mary Galdikas’ research and orangutan conservation in Tanjung Puting National Park has become a world-wide celebration to spread… Continue reading Orangutan Awareness Week!

Forest School in 360°

OFI recently partnered with The Dodo to help them kick off their venture into 360° videos. Showcasing a day in the life at the Care Center, Forest School in 360° offers an immersive viewing experience never before captured at OFI’s Care Center in Central Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo). To view: On your smartphone: pan and rotate… Continue reading Forest School in 360°

Remembering Mark Schell

With appreciation and gratitude for his warmth toward the animal kingdom, Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) remembers Mark Schell. Mark had a deep passion for animals, identifying with their innocence and empathizing with those who were abused. He came from an abusive household, yet went on to be a successful businessman and investor after spending some… Continue reading Remembering Mark Schell

Published

Captive Orangutan Jono Goes Home

Captive Orangutan Jono Goes Home after 6 years in holding cage – Orangutan & Sun Bear Rescue On Monday, April 23rd, the adult male orangutan “Jono” who was featured on ABC’s Foreign Correspondent episode “The Baby Trade” and a young male sun bear “Buddy” arrived in Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan (Kalimantan Tengah) in Indonesian Borneo.… Continue reading Captive Orangutan Jono Goes Home

Published
Categorized as News

A unique appreciation for insect photography!

An OFI Caregiver Story from Pak Denni Direct from the Bornean rainforest comes a story from OFI’s indigenous caregivers about an orangutan’s unique appreciation of their hobby! Pak Denni, who joined OFI in 2003, describes the amusing encounter. Throughout the years, he has worked at several facilities called “Pondoks” at the Orangutan Care Center and… Continue reading A unique appreciation for insect photography!

Published
Categorized as Stories

Orangutan of the Month for Nov, 2017: Andrena

Andrena’s appearance and personality captivate. At first sight, her long, plentiful hair gives the illusion that she is twice the size of her peers at OFI’s Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) in Central Indonesian Borneo. Her richly-coloured hair seems to flow in all directions, accentuating a certain wild essence in her personality. There is… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month for Nov, 2017: Andrena

Looking into the eyes of an orangutan…

“Looking into the calm, unblinking eyes of an orangutan we see, as through a series of mirrors, not only the image of our own creation but also a reflection of our own souls and an Eden that once was ours.” -Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, from Reflection of Eden Share this story  

Orangutans Acting Wild: Building Nests, Making Friends, and Eating Upon Release into the Forest

Orangutans Acting Wild: Building Nests, Making Friends, and Eating Upon Release into the Forest With the release of four orangutans, Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) has now released a total of twenty-seven individuals into the wild during 2017. Two females, Sindora and Sullivan, and two males, Scotch and Murray, were the most recent orangutan releases into… Continue reading Orangutans Acting Wild: Building Nests, Making Friends, and Eating Upon Release into the Forest

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Orangutans Acting Wild: Building Nests, Making Friends, and Eating Upon Release into the Forest

With the release of four orangutans, Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) has now released a total of twenty-seven individuals into the wild during 2017. Two females, Sindora and Sullivan, and two males, Scotch and Murray, were the most recent orangutan releases into Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Borneo, Indonesia. The release site, an area of lush tropical rain forest submerged in translucent, tea-coloured water, has no permanent residents apart from OFI staff who monitor released orangutans. The site is a place of beauty and tranquility. OFI President Dr Biruté Mary Galdikas was accompanied on the release by son Fred, OFI Rescue and Release Team staff, members of the Forestry Department, and Park guests as well as the head of Tanjung Puting National Park, Pak Helmie.  “We are committed with the National Park to protect this forest,” Dr Galdikas explained during her speech in Bahasa Indonesia and English, “so orangutans can be as safe as possible given the uncertainties of this world.” The first orangutan to be released was 13 year old adolescent female Sindora. When the door of her transport cage opened, she stepped out onto the feeding platform and moved around, while gazing up at the trees as if to ascertain where she was. Then she ducked under the platform and drank water from the deep swamp below. The second female, Sullivan, also 13, joined Sindora, drinking and splashing water all over her face. In the Bornean jungle, it’s almost always hot. [gallery type='flickr' photoset_id='72157683978050051' layout='' count='20' more='Show More'] Three orangutans who had been released the previous week, sub-adult males Bro, Groningan, and Oru soon made an appearance.  Observing this week’s release, Oru positioned himself above the platform in a nearby tree. Adolescent female Sullivan climbed closer, and allowed Oru to nuzzle her face. This moment stole the hearts of the watching guests who were thrilled to see normally solitary orangutans acting socially. Just like human teenagers, adolescent orangutans enjoy being social, much more than staid orangutan adults do. Sindora was anxious for the third orangutan, a male named Scotch, to be released. She tried to undo the lock to his transport cage herself several times. But upon release Scotch ignored Sindora and moved to feed into the palms by the river edge. Finally male Murray was released.  He moved straight toward the milk and fruit provided on the platform. Then, following Scotch, Murray moved to the river-edge where he began eating vines and palms.  A few hours later, Murray built a nest.  Nobody was surprised. OFI does not release ex-captive orangutans until they demonstrate an ability to build tree nests. Building tree nests is one of a number of forest skills all orangutans must demonstrate, while being rehabilitated at OFI’s Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine, before they can be released. In 2017 Sindora, Sullivan, Scotch and Murray joined a growing group of orangutans who have returned to the wild. Their release fulfils the rehabilitative goals set forth by Dr Galdikas and her OFI team, and signifies hope for the survival of wild orangutan populations. The entire release was a deep glimpse into a peaceful benign world of serenity, eating, and friendship typical of young orangutan life before the burdens of adulthood appear. Severe competition among males and child-rearing for females will soon change the carefree life of the released orangutan adolescents as they move into adulthood. New responsibilities and new anxieties take over. Orangutans really aren’t that different from humans, after all. [post_title] => Orangutans Acting Wild: Building Nests, Making Friends, and Eating Upon Release into the Forest [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => orangutans-acting-wild [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2020-01-24 03:13:12 [post_modified_gmt] => 2020-01-24 11:13:12 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://orangutan.org/?p=21031 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )