Tag: OOTM

Orangutan of the Month for June, 2019: Jambul2

What is in a name? Names can be very powerful, reflecting one’s character and identity. Names are associated with family but there is so much more to families than we normally acknowledge. Orangutan families know each other not by names but by other senses such as touch, sound, and smell, all often far beyond our… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month for June, 2019: Jambul2

Orangutan of the Month for April, 2019: Tunas

There are many sides to an orangutan’s personality with some characteristics and personality types more prominent then others. There are shy orangutans, adventurous orangutans, and placid orangutans. With some orangutans it’s hard to pinpoint one “type” at all as these orangutans may have many defining traits. Tunas is one of these. She seems to demonstrate… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month for April, 2019: Tunas

Orangutan of The Month for Jan, 2019: Jono

Orangutan of the Month: Jono When migrants return to their motherland, are they more at home coming back to their land of origin or are they now more displaced? Humans all over the world grapple with this dissonance but in our search for belonging, we forget that we are not the only unsettled species. Today,… Continue reading Orangutan of The Month for Jan, 2019: Jono

Orangutan of the Month for Dec, 2018: Wendy

Four in the morning and dawn is barely breaking over the Bornean rainforest. All is quiet as the forest and the animals within begin to stir. The rising sun brings with it the caregivers from the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ). It is an exceedingly early start for them. The working day normally begins… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month for Dec, 2018: Wendy

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 of the Month for Oct, 2018: Chewey

Chewey – is more than just an intergalactic icon Hermits, it seems, have gone out of vogue. These days socializing is what people are talking about. “It’s good for the brain” they say, “good for the heart.” Similarly to cloistered monks, Kalimantan’s orangutan males remain staunchly solitary. Time has been the best teacher. After thousands… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month for Oct, 2018: Chewey

Orangutan of the Month for August, 2018: Robina

At the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) in Central Indonesian Borneo, OFI (Orangutan Foundation International) staff provide milk for the older orangutans in OFI’s care. Caregiver Ibu Tuti always looks forward to her encounters with orangutan Robina or “cantik (beautiful) Robina” as she calls her. Indeed a beauty, Robina’s light ginger locks are long… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month for August, 2018: Robina

Orangutan of the Month for July, 2018: Kuba

Everybody remembers their first house. Dreams are cast, plans are made and pennies are gathered until the jubilant day the homeowner wakes up in their new bed. Given that orangutans share so much in common with humans, they may look on their first nest with a similar sense of pride. One infant orangutan in OFI’s… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month for July, 2018: Kuba

Orangutan of the Month for June, 2018: Allisson

All orangutans have their own needs and learning styles. At the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) in Central Indonesian Borneo, the OFI staff respect the unique personalities of each orangutan. Allisson is a focused and methodical orangutan, and one who does not like to be rushed. Allisson arrived at the Care Center when she… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month for June, 2018: Allisson

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 24555 [post_author] => 14613 [post_date] => 2018-03-31 09:14:19 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-03-31 16:14:19 [post_content] => Orangutan of the Month Allisson Orangutan Foundation InternationalAll orangutans have their own needs and learning styles. At the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) in Central Indonesian Borneo, the OFI staff respect the unique personalities of each orangutan. Allisson is a focused and methodical orangutan, and one who does not like to be rushed. Allisson arrived at the Care Center when she was a few years old, with long armfuls of thick hair. She was not ready to be separated from her mother. In the wild, orangutans stay close with their mothers until they are about 8-10 years old. The premature separation from her mother left this little orphan alone and scared. Like virtually all the orphans at the Care Center, Allisson’s mother had been killed, probably during forest clearing operations. On arrival Allisson was very shy, timid with OFI staff, and even more so with her peers. Once her quarantine period was complete, she was introduced to some other orangutans. As they approached Allisson to play, she seemed overwhelmed and disoriented by the attention. She would look for the nearest exit or find a place to hide. It was all too much for her. For her own well-being, she was housed by herself, though not far from the others. She was given the time she needed to acclimate to this new environment. After some time, she was reintroduced to the other orangutans, and this time, the bond stuck. A patient approach seems to define much of Allisson’s life. She even exercises self-control when milk arrives on the scene. She will literally spin around in circles joyfully anticipating the milk, but she still shows a calm demeanor with respect to her peers. While some orangutans clamber over and bite away at each other to get their milk first, Allisson peacefully waits for her turn. Orangutan of the Month Allisson Orangutan Foundation InternationalAllisson’s energetic side shines during forest school. When she arrives to the enrichment playground, she will roll her way in. Exerting her independence, she watches her peers follow the well-trodden path to the Learning Forest, and chooses to take the scenic route instead. Veering off into the dense undergrowth, she loops her way around, vaulting through the trees until she arrives at her destination. After this “mad five minutes” of excitement, she settles down and prepares to observe her surroundings. If she hears a noise in the forest, she must go toward it. Investigating is something Allisson takes very seriously. She enjoys studying her environment. If she sees a tasty looking caterpillar, she will first scrutinize and “understand” it before gobbling it up. Traversing the rainforest, Allisson breaks off green branches she happens across in order to inspect them better. When inspecting muddy pools, she rakes away at the mud around all sides. If she spots tree roots with a small hole, she must see what is inside, even if it is just more mud! She also enjoys immersing her face in the mud on a hot day to cool off. After spending some time on the ground, Allisson shoots up the trees to chase her fellow orangutans. She and friend Bobble both enjoy climbing and seem to compete to see who can go the highest. Allisson is very orderly about it. She uses all four limbs to hook onto the available branches, and uses the saplings to launch herself between the trees. She has a good sense for foraging, finding passion fruits up in the trees, and snacking on the fibrous young leaves. She then hangs freely, catching the breeze and enjoying her place in the forest canopy. [gallery type='flickr' photoset_id='72157696859496524' layout='circle' count='20' more='Show More'] A skill still on the to-do list for Allisson is building a nest. An adept orangutan can make a nest in five minutes. Allisson hasn’t really bothered with nest making just yet. She is, however, quite adept at destroying ones that she comes across, and it takes much less than five minutes. After initially having a hard time adjusting to life at the Care Center, Allisson is now very gentle and easy to call in at the end of the day. Her progress is evident as she returns from playing and thinks nothing of walking past some of the sleeping enclosures of the older orangutans. She even stops sometimes to see if there’s anything she can steal for herself! Allisson has a peaceful aura about her, and she can teach us all a little something about patience. There is no need to rush. You can take your time to look around and experience what the world has to offer. Allisson cherishes her moments in the rainforest. Someday Allisson’s patient acceptance of her surroundings will pay off when she is ready to be returned to the wild, free to spend as much time as she wants climbing and investigating the world.

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