When I first met Ari, I immediately noticed that he is an incredibly handsome orangutan! However, I quickly saw that there is much more to him than meets the eye. Since he already had the nickname “Handsome Ari,” I know I was not the first person to have been charmed by his looks but after getting to know him, I learned that it is his kind and gentle nature that truly sets him apart. Ari [...]

  Orangutan of the Month   OCCQ, Orangutan, by Kylie Grace.

Most of the new arrivals at Orangutan Foundation International’s (OFI) Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) are young, orphaned orangutans. The caregivers at the OCCQ take these orangutans in and raise them like they are their own children. In the wild, the bond between mother and baby orangutan is incredibly strong. This bond must be emulated at the OCCQ because it is this bond that will provide the love and support needed during an orangutan’s first few years. During this time, it is also very important that the young orangutans socialize with each other. Many orangutans have friends that they play with, but it is rare that they are inseparable. Jessica and Weyerhauser are two such rarities.

  Orangutan of the Month   Care Center, Orangutan, by Kylie Grace.

When wild born ex-captive orangutans arrive at OFI’s Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ), the goal is that one day they will return to the forest. In the wild, orangutans require a number of forest survival skills, such as foraging, nest building, and moving through the multi-dimensional forest canopy. To develop, or in some cases maintain, these skills, the orangutans at the OCCQ are given opportunities to practice. Each day, a team of employees and [...]

  Volunteer Program   Enrichment, rehabilitation, Volunteer, by Kylie Grace.