Wild Encounters from Borneo to Bali - 6

September 26, 2014

Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine

Greeters on way to bus

This morning we were assigned to go to the Care Center in the morning. It was a short bus ride from the ship and near the town of Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan. This Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) facility was created to take care of confiscated ex-captive orangutans.  Eventually they added orphans whose mothers had been killed by the Palm Oil developers. They currently have 340 orangutan orphans that are being raised with the end goal of releasing them to the wild. The center has modern facilities to diagnose and treat problems.

After a tour of the main treatment center we were divided into three groups. Since orangutans are susceptible to the same kinds of germs and diseases as humans, we all wore surgical masks when visiting each area. We were not allowed to take anything in with us, including cameras. Hence, we took no photos of this part of the trip. (Sorry) Most of us even removed our glasses and took everything out of our pockets as the young orangutans are prone to grabbing almost anything. The orangutans are divided into three age groups and taken into different areas to play and learn how to get along in the wild. Our first stop was in a play area for the young ones, up to about age three. They had quite a gymnastics setup to help them learn how to swing through the branches of trees. I think all of us got to hold at least one of them.

The second group we visited was the older juveniles. We walked out along a boardwalk and each orangutan was out with a handler. Some walked along with us and others were up in trees. They were all carefully watched over. 

Grace and Dr. Birute Galdikas

The last group was between ages 4-6+ and they loved to have people play with them. One unexpectedly descended onto my back and gave me a big hug. I have to say that was another highlight of the trip. He/she held on for quite a while then climbed back onto the play equipment. This was when I experienced the texture of orangutans’ hair. It is very wiry and coarse. Unlike other primates, orangutans do not groom each other, so their long hair is just as they each keep it.

That afternoon we had a chance to go back into town to look around and attend a cultural show, but we both opted out. This was the first thing on the whole trip we did not attend. I was busy editing photos so as to have some to share for the group slideshow the next day.

For dinner that night we had a special invitation to dine with Jack and Rikki Swenson out on the back deck. It is always fun to spend some extra time with them; even after all the years we have been traveling together.

That's it for now. Grace and Paul