SEPILOK ORANG UTAN REHABILITATION CENTRE AND LABUK BAY PROBOSCIS MONKEY SANCTUARY (18/11/09)
Most of the flocks of tourists that come to Borneo come here to see one thing- the Orang Utans. We had other things in mind too but the gingerest of the Great Apes was certainly top of our list. Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre rescues orphaned and injured apes before releasing them back to the wild. As part of their rehabilitation they are allowed to roam free, returning to be checked on everyday at set feeding times. These set feeding times also guarantee the tourist hoardes a sight of the Orangs and the money from the vast number of entrance fees is, theoretically at least, put back into helping the animals.
Anyway we joined the hoardes and were rewarded with the arrival of three Orang Utans, two adults and one infant. They are incredible animals to watch and when they, in turn, watch you there is a very tangible intelligence behind their bright black eyes.
The playful and acrobatic juvenile was very proud of his acquisition of a large bunch of bananas.
Liz captured this rather special meeting- this Macaque was clearly very surprised by a huge Orang Utan dropping out of the branches right in front of him.
As the food diminished the other two Orang Utans and most of the monkeys disappeared (along with most of the other tourists) leaving only this female eyeing us suspiciously from half way up a tree. She too disappeared into the high branches not long afterwards and so we reluctantly made our way out of the centre.
We stopped for a drink break just in time- once again the Monsoon rain was becoming more frequent. A 40 minute deluge gave Elinor plenty of time to try a drinking coconut. She was not impressed, they use unripe coconuts to maximise the liquid content but unfortunately at this stage the liquid had a mild, but slightly unpleasant, taste entirely unlike coconut.
Our next stop was at Labuk Bay, a Sanctuary set in the middle of mangrove swamp for the preservation of Proboscis Monkeys. This young male has not yet developed the characteristic nose, but we will include some pictures of fully fledged males in subsequent posts.
The Proboscis Monkeys share their patch of jungle with an almost incomprehensible number and variety of plants and animals- not least these Mudskippers, a semi aquatic fish able to walk on dry land.
As we waited patiently one of the young males came nearer to investigate. It is always an exhilarating feeling getting so close to a wild animal and one we don't think we shall ever tire of.
The source of his interest soon became clear- the rangers had left a small pile of large green beans on the viewing platform rather than putting them with the rest of the food.
Anyway we took advantage of his intimate visit to get a few close up pictures of a wild Proboscis Monkey.
Proboscis Monkeys are fearless and skilful acrobats. They will effortlessly achieve impossible looking jumps and seem to have no qualms about falling several stories before catching onto the lower branches of the adjacent tree.
Exploring the jungle and mangroves on a slightly rickety boardwalk.
It seems that where there is a source of food there is Macaques and Labuk Bay was no exception. For them it was a kind of snatch-and-run affair since they are terrified of the Proboscis Monkeys who are a least twice their size (Proboscis Monkeys are one of the World's largest monkey species).
As if the day had not been amazing enough it ended with us spotting this totally wild Orang Utan. Whilst it had been very special seeing the three at the rehabilitation centre it was still almost a given that they would be there. This lone individual was completely independent of humans and we certainly felt very lucky to see it swinging through the trees in it's natural environment.
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