Orangutan of the Month: Maggie

Maggie is a feisty youngster and won’t let you forget it! If she’s not somersaulting into her playmates than it’s safe to bet she is swinging your way, waiting for just the right opportunity to topple directly on top of you! She only wants to play, of course, and at her tender age, Maggie simply… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Maggie

Brave Little Ben: Orangutan of the month

When I arrived at the Care Center more than six months ago, Ben was the smallest infant in OFI’s care. He always seemed a little timid, and when he was taken into the forest, he was often too afraid to explore the trees. Instead, he liked to cuddle up in a caregiver’s lap where he… Continue reading Brave Little Ben: Orangutan of the month

Caroline, a True Beauty of an Orangutan

Out of the 300+ orangutans who reside at OFI’s Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) in Kalimantan Tengah (Central Indonesian Borneo), Caroline doesn’t stand out in the crowd. She’s small for her age, rather sparsely haired, and – to put it bluntly – a bit scrawny. But what she lacks in physical beauty and brawn,… Continue reading Caroline, a True Beauty of an Orangutan

The Story of Sun Bears Bernie and Wawang

A year and a half ago, on August 1, 2012, thanks to the encouragement and support of Dr Biruté Mary Galdikas and Orangutan Foundation International (OFI), I was given the opportunity to begin the rehabilitation of two captive orphan sun bear cubs back to the wild. The youngest, Bernie, a female, was about 6 months… Continue reading The Story of Sun Bears Bernie and Wawang

Free again – a visit to one of OFI’s releases

Seluang Mas is a very special place. Chosen after extensive ground surveys and GIS satellite map readings by Pak Robert Yappi and Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, it is difficult to access. The area consists of magnificent, barely untouched rain forest, much of it peat swamp forest. Located at the edge of Tanjung Puting National Park,… Continue reading Free again – a visit to one of OFI’s releases

Orangutan of the month: Vanessa

The Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine(OCCQ) is surrounded by several camps that consist of sleeping enclosures for the orangutans and basic facilities for staff. Pondok Medang is one of these camps, located within OFI’s rehabilitation forest and currently home to 25 adolescent orangutans who are preparing for permanent release into the wild. When you visit… Continue reading Orangutan of the month: Vanessa

Orangutan of the Month: Congo

Meeting Congo at OFI’s Care Center and Quarantine in Pasir Panjang, Kalimantan Tengah, is something that visitors don’t easily forget. He is impressive bcause of his large size, lustrous, long hair and his sheer charisma. He seems as tall as a human being when he stands up. He is still a subadult male with a… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Congo

Ibu Maryanti: heart of OFI’s enrichment.

When you see Ibu Maryanti at work at OFI’s Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine in Pasir Panjang, Kalimantan Tengah, Indonesia, you can sense her love for the orangutans. Her concern for the well being of the orangutan orphans in her care is reflected in everything she does. As OFI’s enrichment coordinator, her task is far… Continue reading Ibu Maryanti: heart of OFI’s enrichment.

A day of fire-fighting teaches lessons for a lifetime

A smoky haze blankets the landscape for miles before we reach Rawa Kuno Forest. Off in the distance, great plumes of smoke can be seen emanating from the horizon. At the base of each plume, orange flames reach up and produce the smoke that is being carried off into the sky. Once the sun goes… Continue reading A day of fire-fighting teaches lessons for a lifetime

Orangutan of the Month: Cory Marder

If grades were assigned in forest kindergarten, little Cory would certainly be top of her class. She is smart and also very driven, practicing and honing her forest survival skills every moment she is out in the Care Center’s rehabilitation forest. But Cory Marder is not only smart, she is also very pretty with her… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Cory Marder