Orangutan of the Month: “Pola”
Pola came to Camp Leakey in the mid-1970s as a young juvenile orphan along with other notables like Princess, Unyuk and Tutut. During that time, Pola joined one of the original sign learning projects I was conducting as a graduate student working with Dr. Galdikas. Like Princess, Pola was given a home-reared environment within which… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: “Pola”
Orangutan of the Month: Ego
Photographs and story by Carol Ritchie I first met Ego (pronounced Egg-0) in 1998, one of the many orphaned orangutans being cared for by OFI Indonesian staff. Dr. Galdikas suggested I concentrate my volunteer efforts working to bring her out of her shell. Ego was very insecure and afraid of most of the local OFI… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Ego
Orangutan of the Month: Mohtar
Tracy Tannenbaum and Ron Austerlade visited Tanjung Puting in April and September of 1998 and again in April 1999. They fell in love with many of the park’s orangutan residents, but their favorite is this month’s “Orangutan of the Month”! Mohtar is an eight year old ex-captive orangutan with a sweet face and an unforgettable… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Mohtar
Orangutan of the Month: “Peta”
Shortly after Dr. Birute Galdikas won the 1990 Humanitarian Award from the animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Princess gave birth to her second child. In honor of the award, Dr. Birute called the newborn “PETA”. Peta’s facial features very much resembles that of her beautiful mother but her personality… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: “Peta”
Orangutan of the Month: Anthrax
Seven year old Anthrax is a wild orangutan living a free and “normal” life in the forests of Borneo. Anthrax was born in the wild to Akmad, the first Camp Leakey ex-captive to give birth. Dr Birute Galdikas’ son, Binti, named him. According to Dr. Galdikas, Anthrax is a typical young male. He loves to… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Anthrax
Orangutan of the Month: Akmad
Akmad was Dr. Birute Galdikas’ 1st adopted orangutan daughter, having met Akmad only one month after she first arrived in Kalimantan in 1971. Akmad was rescued from a logging camp by Birute where she was being held in a make shift cage, after they killed her mother in front of her. Even though Akmad was… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Akmad
Orangutan of the Month: Gistok
“Gistok is one of the most colorful characters in Tanjung Puting! He once lived with a family as a pet before coming to the reserve. He is friendly to humans, inquisitive and naughty! We saw him hanging in a tree over the river watching us as we headed to Camp Leakey, but weren’t to meet… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Gistok
Orangutan of the Month: Tutut
Tut, who is in her late 20’s is the biological mother of five-year-old Terry (pictured) and a handsome fifteen year old male named Tom, who can be seen roaming the trees in Camp Leakey. It is thought that Tom may one day take over the dominant male role from Kusasi. A lucky visitor to Camp… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Tutut
Orangutan of the Month: Siswi
Siswi, OFI’s Orangutan of the Month, is indeed an amazing orangutan. First, she has the distinction of being the first orangutan born to an excaptive at historic Camp Leakey. Second, she almost died and is alive today through the efforts of veterinarians, tireless caregivers, and a strong will to live. Siswi was born September 9,… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Siswi
Orangutan of the Month – Hughie
Hughie arrived at the Care Center in August of 1997, weighing only 3.5kg (7.7lbs). He was found next to a palm oil plantation by locals who claimed Hughie’s mother had abandoned him (not something orangutan mothers do). Since his arm was fractured, chances are his mother was shot out of a tree or killed when… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month – Hughie
