I like Orangutans. One of my most moving moments was when I was taken behind the scenes by a colleague at Auckland Zoo and saw the enrichment programmes they were doing with them. One of my past students was also there as a keeper, and a number of the other keepers appeared from different departments all over the zoo to help, twice a day. As I watched them working with these wonderful animals I had been cautioned to stay silent ... but emotions just spill over and when you can't make pleasurable noises, what else can you do? I cried quietly.
At one point, my friend hung from his arms, pressed against the glass, mirroring the Orang Utan female who then stared deeply into his eyes, for a long time. He finally moved away, his own eyes wet and admitted that he found it very hard to not be moved when working with these animals, because of the intelligence in their eyes.
At one point, my friend hung from his arms, pressed against the glass, mirroring the Orang Utan female who then stared deeply into his eyes, for a long time. He finally moved away, his own eyes wet and admitted that he found it very hard to not be moved when working with these animals, because of the intelligence in their eyes.
I had heard that Orangutans, traditionally used to swinging across water in the trees to avoid the risk of crocodiles, had learned to swim. There are no forests to swing over anymore! This morning, I read The Pet Blog who has posted some superb pictures of them and they even appear to be enjoying the water.... and for a great article with some excellent pictures that can be enlarged for desktop use, go to The-orangutans-overcame-fear-water-crocodiles-swim-search-food.html
But lets be honest. They are adapting to the destruction of their environment and if you search further, the situation is worsening due to the need for palm oil!!! Artery clogging oil at that!
So today I was sad to hear that a British company is adding to their problems!
Oil boom threatens the last orangutans
The Independent: Kathy Marks: 23 June 2009Do read more at Borneo Orangutan Survival
A famous British company, Jardines, is profiting as the lowland forest – which shelters the few remaining orang-utans – is razed to make way for massive palm oil plantations, reports Kathy Marks in Tripa, Indonesia
Perched halfway up a tree near a bend in the Seumayan River, a young orang-utan lounges on a branch, eating fruit. In the distance, smoke rises from an illegal fire, one of dozens lit to wipe out the virgin rainforest and replace it with oil palm plantations.
It's burning season on Indonesia's Sumatra island, where vast tracts of vegetation are being torched and clear-felled to meet the soaring global demand for palm oil. The pace is especially frenzied in the peat swamp forests of the Tripa region, one of the final refuges of the critically endangered orang-utan – and a company owned by one of Britain's most venerable trading groups is among those leading the destructive charge.
My brother has also been involved with them because he is a mining engineer and has spent a lot of time in Indonesia over the past 20 years. He often talked about the impact the destruction of the rain forests, the burning of the trees, was having on them, and the amazing job the rescue team was doing. Now, the Rescue Sanctuary is also facing a crisis - please read this site and you can also make donations on it.
Orangutan rescue sanctuary in need of saving
