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

Orangutan of the Month for Oct, 2017: Voyce

For orangutan infant orphan “Voyce”, OFI’s Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) in Central Borneo was a light that brightened his once uncertain future. Voyce had developed a serious parasitic worm infection that caused gastrointestinal distention. He had a large, visible swelling of the abdomen. While some parasites develop and live within their host unnoticed, the… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month for Oct, 2017: Voyce

Adult Orangutan and Young Malayan Sun Bear Rescued from Grim Captive Conditions for Return to Wild

On Tuesday, May 9th, an adult male orangutan “Jacko” and young Malaysian sun bear “Chico”arrived in Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan (Kalimantan Tengah) in Indonesian Borneo. They were welcomed by Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas and staff from Orangutan Foundation International (OFI). Fourteen year old orangutan Jacko was discovered in August of 2014, living in a private… Continue reading Adult Orangutan and Young Malayan Sun Bear Rescued from Grim Captive Conditions for Return to Wild

Orangutan of the Month for Sept, 2017: Karaba

Karaba is a unique orangutan with her own distinctive expressions and mannerisms. Orangutan facial expressions give hints as to their emotions at a given time. For example, playful infants will sometimes stretch open their mouths, almost like a yawn, just before playing a trick on a staff member or another orangutan. When Karaba drops her… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month for Sept, 2017: Karaba

Orangutan of the Month for August 2017: Berman

Berman is a beautiful orangutan with plentiful bright orange hair. A tiara of darker orange hair frames the front crest of her head. While manoeuvring through the matrix of branches and trees, Berman is followed by a shadow of orange as her hair flows behind her.   Her symmetrical facial features are accented with light… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month for August 2017: Berman

Orangutan of the Month for July 2017: Patricia

At the Orangutan Care Centre and Quarantine (OCCQ), Patricia shines as a unique orangutan with an unforgettable personality. Her tranquil and relaxed disposition is infectious. Her gentle nature creates a calming atmosphere about her. Patricia exudes independence and an air of breezy sophistication, taking her time transitioning between activities and setting her own pace. Relaxed… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month for July 2017: Patricia

Buddies in Arms

Buddy systems frequently develop among the young orphaned orangutans at the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ).     Craving the comfort they would have received from their mothers for six to as many as ten years, the orangutans make friends, often in pairs.       Friendships come in handy to the orphans during… Continue reading Buddies in Arms

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 19827 [post_author] => 10287 [post_date] => 2017-02-28 08:35:04 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-02-28 15:35:04 [post_content] => Buddy systems frequently develop among the young orphaned orangutans at the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ).   [caption id="1" align="aligncenter" width="640"]Orangutan Foundation International Doris & Holland Dorris & Holland[/caption]  

Craving the comfort they would have received from their mothers for six to as many as ten years, the orangutans make friends, often in pairs.

  [caption id="1" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Orangutan Foundation International Ray & Vytas Bayat & Chewey[/caption]   [caption id="3" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Orangutan Foundation International Bayat & Chewey Ray & Vytas[/caption]  

Friendships come in handy to the orphans during daily visits to the OFI Learning Forest.

  [caption id="3" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Orangutan Foundation International Holland & Trudeau Buddies Holland and Trudeau follow one another while climbing.[/caption]   [caption id="4" align="aligncenter" width="640"]Orangutan Foundation International Dodot & Weyerhauser Dodot and Weyerhauser stay close as they explore during forest school.[/caption]   [caption id="5" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Orangutan Foundation International Kobe & Ryan Kobe & Ryan trade secrets bundled into a small nook under a tree.[/caption]  

While some young orangutans are confident in their independence, others prefer company to dig, climb, and sometimes even to sleep.

  [caption id="5" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Orangutan Foundation International Charlie & Karti Charlie & Karti[/caption]   [caption id="6" align="aligncenter" width="534"]2016-09-27_PondokDanielle_eeg_002_Jenifer,Summers_wm Jennifer & Summers[/caption]   [caption id="7" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Orangutan Foundation International Walman & Weyerhauser Walman & Weyerhauser[/caption]  

Buddy systems help the orangutans to learn important skills from one another through sharing and imitation. [caption id="8" align="aligncenter" width="640"]2017-02-04_PondokDanielle_dwn_054_Jenifer,Yansi_wm Jennifer & Yansi Seymour[/caption]   [caption id="9" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Orangutan Foundation International Jenifer & Yansi Jennifer & Yansi Seymour[/caption]   We cannot forget the infrangible bond between young orangutan and mother that these orphans once knew in the wild. The illegal pet industry as well as habitat destruction from logging and land modification for palm oil plantations have induced an overwhelming orphan phenomenon. As young orangutans work together and flourish as pairs at the OCCQ, we must also work together as a species to protect their habitat and save them from extinction. [caption id="9" align="aligncenter" width="334"]Orangutan Foundation International Doris & Lucky Doris & Lucky[/caption]   [caption id="10" align="aligncenter" width="333"]Orangutan Foundation International Rimbaraya Holland & Iribe[/caption]

Share this story

Facebook Twitter Email [post_title] => Buddies in Arms [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => buddies-in-arms [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-06-13 12:48:08 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-06-13 19:48:08 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://orangutan.org/?p=19827 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )