Orang Utans
As with the excursion to Angkor from Bangkok, it seemed daft whilst in KL to turn down the opportunity to visit Malaysian Borneo (Sabah) to see Orang Utans. We knew from the web that there is a rehabilitation centre at Sepilok in Northern Borneo where captured (for pets) and orphaned Orang Utans are prepared for a normal life back in the wild. So off to Sepilok we went.
Our hotel was the Sepilok Jungle Resort - very basic but clean and good food (executive suite - 14 quid a night)!!
Our "suite" at Sepilok and the board walk which took us to reception, restaurant etc. All very pretty but hot and wet (see Doug below).
The Rehabilitation Centre at Sepilok is a few minutes walk from the Jungle Resort Hotel where we stayed. The Orang Utans are prepared for the return to wild-ness over several years. This is achieved by offering food stations deeper and deeper in the rain forest, offering less and less food until our furry friends are completely self sufficient. We were able to visit at the nearest food station - still a trek into the rain forest via elevated boardwalk. Quite an interesting walk in its own right.
As you can see, we were able to get quite close to them.
But by far the closest encounter we had with them was in the afternoon. We were early and pretty much on our own, walking on the boardwalk through the rainforest when a small furry creature appeared through the fence and attached herself to me!! Amazing!! Talking to the rangers afterwards, this is apparently an extremely rare event. It was a little difficult since the centre stresses the need for the Orang Utans to be "weaned off" humans, but this one had a very tight grip on my hand and didn't want to let go until she saw a ranger approaching at which point she legged it in the opposite direction. Fortunately Diane managed to reel off a few photos of the event. I feel very privileged to have met Anna Lisa (we later found out that this is her name and that she is six years old).
Our hotel was the Sepilok Jungle Resort - very basic but clean and good food (executive suite - 14 quid a night)!!
Our "suite" at Sepilok and the board walk which took us to reception, restaurant etc. All very pretty but hot and wet (see Doug below).
The Rehabilitation Centre at Sepilok is a few minutes walk from the Jungle Resort Hotel where we stayed. The Orang Utans are prepared for the return to wild-ness over several years. This is achieved by offering food stations deeper and deeper in the rain forest, offering less and less food until our furry friends are completely self sufficient. We were able to visit at the nearest food station - still a trek into the rain forest via elevated boardwalk. Quite an interesting walk in its own right.
As you can see, we were able to get quite close to them.
But by far the closest encounter we had with them was in the afternoon. We were early and pretty much on our own, walking on the boardwalk through the rainforest when a small furry creature appeared through the fence and attached herself to me!! Amazing!! Talking to the rangers afterwards, this is apparently an extremely rare event. It was a little difficult since the centre stresses the need for the Orang Utans to be "weaned off" humans, but this one had a very tight grip on my hand and didn't want to let go until she saw a ranger approaching at which point she legged it in the opposite direction. Fortunately Diane managed to reel off a few photos of the event. I feel very privileged to have met Anna Lisa (we later found out that this is her name and that she is six years old).
posted by Doug and Diane at 4:01 PM
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