Semenggoh (Sarawak-Borneo)

Who does not think of orangutans the minute you read or think about Borneo. We certainly had high hopes to see them in their natural element. Off we went for a day trip to the Orangutang  wildlife center of Semenggoh.
Originally, in 1975, the sanctuary was used as a rehabilitation and release center for injured or orphaned orangutans or for those held captive as illegal pets and rescued. The sanctuary covers 653 acres of protected jungle. Today, they serve as a home for orangutans that have been successfully released in the past and that are now completely autonomous and reproducing successfully.
However, although the sanctuary is large, it is not sufficient to maintain and feed the current colony of orangutangs living here especially outside the fruiting season and so they feed them twice daily. The animals are free to come or not to these feedings that basically serve as a supplement to their diet. And so, as regular as clockwork, the orangutans swing down from the trees for a free hand out of fruit. It is one of the rare places in the world where visitors can closely observe their otherwise shy jungle cousins.
These feedings allow scientists and park rangers to keep a close eye on the colony, ensure their health and even provide them with medication once in a while when necessary. It's also the opportunity to educate le visitors about the animals and increase the sensitization around this endangered species. 
The sanctuary is only open a few hours a day around the feeding times. The rest of the time, it is closed to the public in an effort to limit the exposition to humains for the animals. 
We were so keen on observing the animals that we chose to go for the 2 daily feedings. In the morning, we saw one of the 2 alfa males and many others (possibly 20 in total came to the feeding). We felt privileged to be their and watch them move around so gracefully et effortlessly. Beautiful, just beautiful!

The big alfa male, all others feed after he is done.

His imposing cheek pads and throat pouch will only develop in the absence of another alfa male.

​Look at this impressive flexibility and strength! Why sit quietly on a branch or the ground when you can just "hang" effortlessly from a rope or liana! 

​Actually, their hip joints have the same flexibility and range of motion as the shoulder joint!

Unflanged male (no check pads) enjoying his coconut

They make opening a coconut look so easy! After pealing them off a bit with their teeth, they crack them open like we would a fragile egg!

Young ones will cling to their mom non stop for the first 2 years of their life after which they will start progressively to explore her immediate surroundings, within the safety of arms reach.

By the age of 6 or 7, the young ones enter an adolescent phase and move around without their mom.

They swing around with easy and grace making it look as easy as a walk in the park!

If you want, have a look at this video where you can see them just going about their business. Nothing spectacular but still a glimpse into what we saw :)
If you look carefully, in the beginning of the video there are 2 orangutans, the darker one has a really small baby clinging to her left side.

Fun Facts about orangutans

- 97% of their genome is shared by humains!
-In Malay language: "Ourang" means person and "Hutan" means forest
- Females stand 4 feet tall and can reach approx. 40kg while males stand 6.5 feet tall and can reach 80kg
- Reach sexual maturity at age 15 and only have on offspring every 6 to 9 years!
- Life expectancy: approx. 30 years
- Estimated population in Malaysian Borneo: 12 000 individuals