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

An Enrichment Update

At OFI’s Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ), enrichment is a crucial part of caring for the physical and mental health of the orangutans. Over the past few years, the number and complexity of the items offered to the orangutans has increased substantially due to the dedicated work of the Enrichment Coordinator and a number… Continue reading An Enrichment Update

Berman: Orangutan of the Month

This is my last Orangutan of the Month as I am leaving Borneo in a matter of days, so I wanted to pick an orangutan that I’ve bonded with throughout my six months at the OFI Care Center. I first came across Berman when I gave her an extra daily meal of “bubur”(porridge) made from… Continue reading Berman: Orangutan of the Month

Employee of the Month: Pak Ateng, a skilled Caregiver at the OFI Care Center

As a caregiver, Pak Ateng is part of a team  responsible for rehabilitating the orphaned orangutans at OFI’s Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine. Pak Ateng encourages the orangutans to develop important forest skills such as foraging, nest building, and climbing.  The orangutans seem to respect his gentle nature and expansive knowledge of the forest.  Yet… Continue reading Employee of the Month: Pak Ateng, a skilled Caregiver at the OFI Care Center

Orangutan of the Month: Unyuk from Camp Leakey

You may have already met adult female Unyuk, and her infant Ursula. They briefly feature in the recent film Born to be Wild IMAX 3D which was partially filmed at Camp Leakey, Tanjung Puting National Park, Central Borneo. A historic but still active research and conservation site, Camp Leakey is where Dr Biruté Mary Galdikas… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Unyuk from Camp Leakey

Releasing Orangutans back to the Wild: a Complex Procedure

Not every orangutan release goes as planned. In April 2010 Congo, an eleven year old male, was released at a forest camp located in a secure patch of forest stewarded by OFI and used as a release site for rehabilitated orangutans. Unfortunately, in August he had to return to the Care Center in the village… Continue reading Releasing Orangutans back to the Wild: a Complex Procedure

IMAX Star of the Month: Omry

Introducing Omry, the mischievous star of the IMAX film Born to be Wild: Omry is easily remembered from the scene where he wreaks havoc in a kitchen by clanging pots and ripping into a bag of flour. He is also the youngster playing on the clothesline and messing with the clean laundry in the film.… Continue reading IMAX Star of the Month: Omry

IMAX’s ‘Born to be wild’ star of the month: Douglas Soledo

Douglas Soledo has a story quite unlike the tales of other orangutan orphans. Featured in the new IMAX movie, BORN TO BE WILD, opening this April, Douglas Soledo is about to become an international movie star! His arrival at OFI’s Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) in 2010 coincided with the beginning of the film… Continue reading IMAX’s ‘Born to be wild’ star of the month: Douglas Soledo

Otok – Orangutan of the Month

Resting in the heights of his hammock, Otok is king, towering over the other orangutans in the veterinary clinic and bestowing his caregivers with aloof glances. His unsociable ways are renowned in the Care Center since Otok seems to exult in solitude, cocooned within his precious hammock. Even when offered fruit, he will simply fling… Continue reading Otok – Orangutan of the Month

Orangutan of the Month: Mr Bernie

The name “Mister Bernie” fits this tiny orangutan perfectly. He is an old soul with a thoughtful gaze and a soft way about him . When out in the jungle learning forest skills, “Mr Bernie” plays and climbs and has a great time. He is strong enough to climb trees, unlike some of his nursery… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Mr Bernie