The Orang-utan Rehabilitation Center
Trip Start
Jun 05, 2007
1
50
82
Trip End
Jan 06, 2009
Sandakan,
Sabah,
Malaysia
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
We woke up in the morning, had a quick breakfast and then headed over to the rehabilitation center on foot, only a few minutes walk. The morning feeding was at ten o'clock so we took our time walking along the boardwalk out to the feeding platform. By the time we got there, there were lots or Orang-utans already there, swinging along the ropes from post to post. Only a few people had arrived, and so all of the great apes attention was on us. They would give us long stares that seemed to include some understanding of the role we humans were playing in their lives. The closer to feeding time, the more and more that came. Just before feeding time three of the younger ones all got to the platform. Two began wrestling while one hung above them swatting at them with his arms, and occasional dropping right on top of them. It is astonishing their resemblance to human beings. The joints are so similiar, even if their strength is uncomprable. Once of them climbed the stairs just as you would watch a human do, which apparantly happens alot in captiviy. One woman began petting a long tailed Macque that was sitting on the viewing platform, and actually had to be scolded by one of the park workers.
Life is tough
"These things will attack you Ma'am." Just after this the whole troop of long tailed Macques showed up, in force, numbering about 20. Even the big male made an appearance. We were taking photos of them, and watching the orangs and their monkey business. This continued for ten minutes or so until the trainers arrived with a breakfast of bananas and milk. They put the milk in a shallow pan, and the apes stuck their faces right in sipping it up. They peeled the bananas and ate them with purpose, seeming to have no reason to rush. They owned the platform. Suddenly, a group of Macques made a mad dash for the bananas, and one of the orangs just swiped with his arm, knocking two off with extreme ease. They fell to the ground, and the others scattered, letting the apes have their feed. They loved to hang upside down and eat their bananas, or just from one arm, or leg for that matter. After they finished the trainers left the rest for the monkeys. The Orangs took their time doing what they pleased, which included for one of them peeing on its foot and then having a taste.
After the feeding we went for the only hike that was open, the bird walk. We didnt see many birds, but heard a bunch. We also got another taste of everyone's favorite animal, the leech. There was mud, and where there is mud, there is the leech. We got plenty of bites, but we always enjoy trekking in the jungle, regardless. Met a few people on the trail, and helped them out with our salt.
We returned for the afternoon feeding as well but only three showed, but one of them was a momma and her baby. The show just wasnt the same, but you could understand with the afternoon heat on as it was. But it was still enjoyable, and we ended up meeting an American couple whom had been to Uncle Tan's and we unraveled the mystery of where to find them. And decided we would take their jungle trek after all. This decided we went back to the resort, and got our transport to wonderful Sandakan.
Here was a heck of a place. Pretty much surrounded by palm plantation, and nearly everyone in town works in one. You can easily percieve the poverty here, and walking around at night time is quite uncomforatable. We overpaid again for accomodation, which is a staple in Sabah. Food was good, but only in one spot really.
But, we booked our ticket to the Kinabatangan, and we were on our way the next day.
