Berman and I on our way to the forest

For the past six months my office has been the forest and my colleagues orangutans. My position as Communications Intern has allowed me the honor of sharing the stories of these amazing animals with the world. Although my dream has come true, there are over 330 orangutans that are still waiting for their dream of being wild again. Without OFI, these orangutans would not even have that chance to dream. Their fates would have been sealed the moment their mothers were killed and taken away from them. Thankfully, they have safe places to sleep, fresh fruit to eat, and caregivers to take them to the forest.

Office in the forest

I have seen the devastation that humans have inflicted upon the forests in Kalimantan. I have driven through hundreds of kilometres of palm oil plantations, visited mining sites, and met the results of illegal logging – infant orangutans suddenly orphaned with panic and heartache in their eyes. Precious forest habitat is disappearing at a nearly unstoppable rate: not only affecting wild orangutan populations, but also affecting the future of rehabilitated orangutans. Where will they go? Time is of the essence with orangutan conservation. We cannot wait – we must act now. But can we right our wrongs? Can we change what we have done? The only answer I have to these questions is that we must.

Orphaned Suntara in the arms of her caregiver

Losing any of our planet’s precious life to the point of extinction is a terrible tragedy. But to lose a great ape, our history, our almost ancestors? This is a tragedy of unthinkable proportions. At least it is for me. When I look into the eyes of an orangutan or compare the size of my hands, I have a hard time believing that we are so different. Perhaps this is the reason I am so drawn to them. Orangutan mothers care for their infants much like my mother cared for me. When I watch juvenile orangutans play, I cannot help but think about children at the playground or in the sandbox.

Holding hands with Frankie

I will never forget the orange halo that radiates from an orangutan as it forages in the canopy on a sunny day or falling asleep at night to the majestic sound of long calls. It is only in my final days here that I truly realize what I have experienced and what I will greatly miss. I thank Orangutan Foundation International for not only giving me this opportunity but also for the amazing work they do. I thank the orangutans for sharing so much of themselves with me. I thank the people of Pasir Panjang and the staff at the OCCQ (including my fellow volunteers) for not only accepting me but befriending me. So instead of saying goodbye, I say sampai jumpa lagi – until we meet again.

Related Articles:

1. Zircon: A New Threat to the Forests of Borneo

A termite snack

This is my last Orangutan of the Month article and the choice was clear: Eric. Eric first caught my eye when he was introduced to me by a fellow volunteer. She told me there was something different about him. My interest was piqued and I began to spend time with him. Eric quickly became a favorite of mine. Although there are many orangutans in OFI’s care at the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ), it’s impossible to not have special connections with a select few. People have personalities and so do orangutans; it’s only natural for some to clash and some to meld. Not only is Eric a special friend of mine, he is also the first orangutan that I was able to recognize without being told who he was. A major milestone in my time in Borneo.

Eric contemplating his next move

Eric squeaks whenever I visit him. As I approach, I call his name. I like to think that he is calling my name too. When we meet face-to-face, the first thing that Eric does is take both of my hands in his. Although his is still young, his hands are very large; much like a puppy who hasn’t yet grown into his paws. He never pulls or squeezes, just holds gently. Although one should never look an orangutan directly in the eyes, Eric craves this intimate contact and is the first to lock gazes. Eric and I have spent hours in these silent conversations, holding hands and attempting to read one another’s thoughts. One of my most memorable moments with Eric is when he brought me close so our noses were almost touching. He placed a gentle hand around the back of my head and looked at me as if he had a secret to tell me. If I am having a hard day, I tell Eric about it. He may not understand my words but I believe that he understands my feelings. He always knows just what say to make me feel better even if his words are unspoken.

A moment of play

Another trait that makes Eric stand out is that he does interesting things with his food. Most orangutans, especially males, will eat as much and as fast as they can. Many will even try to take food from others. This behavior is observed in most animals and is a survival tactic. When I visit with Eric, he is always trying to feed me! If I am lucky, he will carefully peel a banana and attempt to push it into my mouth. If I’m not lucky, I get rambutan husks, leaves and even sticks. On more than one occasion I have chewed his offerings only to spit them out when he isn’t looking. If he catches me declining his offering, he looks confused for a moment and comes back with something else to feed me. On another occasion, instead of feeding me his peeled banana, he drew all over my t-shirt with it! One of OFI’s enrichment volunteers is convinced that Eric’s favourite colour is yellow. She was wearing a yellow t-shirt when he pointed to it and then to a banana. He did this repeatedly! Perhaps Eric is the next Picasso? Perhaps he wanted more bananas.

Eric (right) shares the termite nest he found with a friend

The sensitive, intuitive Eric disappears in the forest; both figuratively and literally! Eric does not think twice about his human friends in the forest, he is only interested in climbing trees. And what a tree climber he is! Eric is always the last orangutan to be collected at the end of the day. Sometimes even hours after his friends have settled in for the night. He is not only comfortable in the forest, he can perform magic tricks. One minute his is beside you, and the next he is gone. If he does emerge, he is always on the other side of the path or boardwalk. How does he do that? Other orangutans break branches or rustle leaves as they move in the forest. Eric moves silently without causing any disturbances. It’s these disappearing acts that make him so hard to find at the end of the day!

A natural in the forest

The word orangutan comes from the Indonesian language; orang meaning person and hutan meaning forest. I cannot think of a more literal representation of “person of the forest” than Eric. Orangutans are led by instinct, experience, and their mother’s teachings. However, there are moments of emotion and understanding where the line between animal and human becomes blurred. Eric is smart, funny, and caring. He is also a fierce, strong, and independent. He enjoys holding hands and sharing a meal. He also enjoys sleeping in trees and eating termites. Some may only see Eric as an animal while others consider him a person. I just call him friend.

Related Articles:

1. Berman: Orangutan of the Month
2. Orangutan of the Month: Krista
3. Orangutan of the Month: Mr Bernie

A papaya tree with growing fruit

With help from Mr. Jamie Reinart, a horticultural student knowledgeable about gardening and OFI volunteer from Canada, OFI staff member Pak Majid started an experiment to determine if sustainable fruit farming is a feasible option for OFI.  The main focus of this experiment is to develop nutrient rich soil from sand, compost and sawdust.  In the past, the compost collected after feeding the orangutans (banana peels, rambutan husks, bean pods, etc.) was taken off site to a private composting facility.  With Pak Majid’s innovation, the compost is now collected and kept on site where it is mixed into small piles to decompose and turn into nitrogen-rich soil.  This collection of compost is already a big step towards a sustainable system in itself.

Compost piles at the OCCQ containing mostly rambutan husks and seeds.

The next step in the process is to mix the compost with natural soil and sawdust.  This combination of materials will hopefully produce a growing medium that will support the growth of fruit trees.  To begin with, Pak Majid has planted 50 trees in the field behind the OCCQ.  The goal of this experiment is for ten of these 50 trees to produce large fruits (approximately five fruits each).  If this goal is reached, the project may be expanded and will allow OFI to supplement the fruit given to the orangutans with locally grown fruit and produce from the Care Center itself.  It is unlikely that OFI will ever be able to fully feed the orangutans from fruit grown on site due to spatial limitations as well as the sheer number of mouths to feed; however, it is a step in the right direction.  The information gained from this experiment may also be helpful to the local community and lead to future economic opportunities.

Pak Majid working on his garden at Camp Rendell.

Pak Majid has started a similar project at Camp Rendell; a 40-minute drive from the OCCQ. Camp Rendell is a new facility built on land recently acquired by OFI.  This site is where two of the three volunteer construction teams stayed and worked this summer The facility was built with the generous donation of a member family of OFI.  The camp consists of a brand new house, sleeping enclosures for 25 orangutans, much forest habitat and a 250 meter bridge leading over the swamp forest down to the river.  Since there are fewer orangutans and more space here than at the OCCQ, the potential for a sustainable fruit farm is much more feasible.  It is difficult to grow anything except for pineapples in the current dry season but Pak Majid is confident that when the wet season begins, so will the fruit.  He has already started the germination process with previously collected durian and other fruit seeds.

Durian seeds in a planter box at camp Rendell.

With sustainable horticulture, OFI can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the local landfill, reduce harmful emissions from the transport of produce across the Java Sea, provide new farming techniques to the local people, reuse biomass for compost and begin to change attitudes about waste management.  The orangutans at Camp Rendell and the OCCQ will benefit by eating freshly picked fruit still warm from the sun.

Pak Majid in action! He is clearing the field to plant pineapples.

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Maxine and her sack.

Maxine is approximately 9 years old. She was first introduced to OFI when she arrived at the age of five. She was brought to the OCCQ by the Indonesian Forestry Department from western Borneo. She has no official history but definately has a story – she is the only one who knows it. Maxine is classified into the “failure to thrive” category; she is small with low body mass. She is a good eater, albeit very picky, but seems unable to put on weight. There is no medical reason to explain this as she is an otherwise healthy orangutan. Too often the stress and trauma of an orangutan’s past can lead to poor eating habits and/or the inability to grow at the expected rate. Maxine is on a special feeding regime to provide her with more calories. This regime consists of a variety of local fruits plus an additional portion of porridge made from mung beans, red rice, milk and pumpkin. Although she loves her porridge, she is still struggling to put on weight.

Maxine in the forest.

One of the things I find most interesting about Maxine is her trading behavior. Making trades, or bartering, is a characteristic of some primates. An example is social grooming most commonly displayed by social apes like chimpanzees; you scratch my back and I will scratch yours. Orangutans are solitary animals where grooming is usually only seen between mother and offspring. However, orangutans are known to make trades with other orangutans for fruit and other objects. Maxine will offer her highly coveted burlap sack in exchange for bright red hibiscus flowers. How do we know she is trying to make a trade? She will push the sack into her caregiver’s hand and either point or push her caregiver in the direction of the hibiscus tree. Those hibiscus flowers must be very tasty in order for Maxine to part with her beloved sack. Don’t worry, she always gets the sack back.

A moment of rest.

Maxine is a great problem solver. After receiving a rice ball as part of her special feeding regime, she found that it was a little too warm for her liking. She wrapped the rice ball in a leaf to handle more comfortably. She then blew on the rice ball to cool it further before eating. She ate a little bit and then blew on it again! I am unsure if Maxine has ever seen humans do this before but even if she has, her ability to learn a new behavior and to remember it is quite remarkable. The ability to learn from cultural situations is a trait of animal species with higher intelligence. Some animals are born with all the knowledge they will need in the form of instincts. Some animals can only learn from their mothers. Primates, along with many other species, have the ability to learn from peers. This trait played a major role in primate and human evolution.

Maxine leading her caregiver to her favourite spot.

There is nothing that Maxine would rather be doing than exploring the forest. She will play near her caregiver for a few minutes before heading deep into the trees where she can no longer be seen. She always goes to the same spot in the forest; she is looking for ants. Orangutans mainly eat fruit but supplement their diet with insects for protein. She doesn’t mind when the ants resist by crawling on her and biting her. Maxine will remain in her special place for hours where she cannot be seen or heard. Maxine’s caregiver calls to her every few minutes just to let her know that she has not been left alone. When Maxine is exhausted from the forest, she quietly comes back to her caregiver for a piggyback ride home where she stands tall, always on the lookout. In the forest, Maxine is the boss.

Maxine feasting on ants!

Maxine is a gentle orangutan who never bites or pulls too hard. She understands that humans have limitations in the forest (we cannot follow her everywhere) and that we are not the same as her. She acknowledges other orangutans in the forest but chooses to be solitary. On rare occasions she plays with Berman, another female orangutan of the same age and size. They take turns chasing each other, swinging through the trees. Maxine expresses her intelligence, compassion, gentle nature and emotions; a great ambassador for her species. Maybe we can all learn something from Maxine.

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Cooked Bird's Nest Soup

Bird’s nest soup is a Chinese delicacy that has been consumed for thousands of years dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907).   Bird nests, believed to have medicinal properties, were collected from cliff-side caverns to use as an ingredient for soup, tonics, and other elixirs.  Because the collection of nests was a difficult and dangerous process, birds nest products were only attainable by the Emperor and his family.  From the Tang Dynasty to present day, bird’s nest soup is one of the most sought after Chinese delicacies.  Today, the bird nest farming industry is booming; nowhere more so than in Indonesia.

Swiftlet nests used for bird's nest soup

The “bird” in bird’s nest soup is the swiftlet.  There are around 30 species of swiftlets in the world with only a few species from the genus Aerodramus producing nests suitable for human consumption as well as commercial production.  Of these few species, two are most common in the industry: the White-nest swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) and the Black-nest swiftlet (Aerodramus maximus).  These swiftlets are found in tropical and sub-tropical regions of southern continental Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar.  Indonesia is the largest producer of White-nest swiftlet nests in the world.  The nests produced in Indonesia do not remain in the country; the majority are exported to Hong Kong and the remainder to the United States of America.

The White-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus fuciphagus, in flight

There are a few reasons why the swiftlet nest has been considered such a delicacy for over a thousand years.  Much like shark-fin soup, bird’s nest soup has become more of a tradition than an enjoyable meal.  The only ingredients are the nests, sugar, and water resulting in a sweet, gelatinous concoction that is an acquired taste.  Traditional Chinese medicine considers swiftlet nests to have many healing properties.  It is prescribed to slow the ageing process; sooth the lungs; relieve phlegm and coughs; improve digestion; alleviate asthma; and to increase immunity, concentration, and libido.  When used as a topical treatment, it is believed to smooth wrinkles, repair damaged skin, and maintain skin tone.

Prior to modern farming techniques, the swiftlet nests were so rare that only the very rich were able to indulge in them.  For this reason, swiftlet nest products became a symbol of status and the price has remained very high throughout history, the present day being no exception.  Although the majority of the world’s swiftlet nest products are now made from farmed nests, the price remains very high.  One bowl of soup can cost as much as $100 USD and one kilogram of dried nest can run as high as $2000 USD.  The increase in international demand, coupled with the high cost, has made swiftlet nest farming a very competitive industry.  Swiftlet farming produces 0.5 percent of Indonesia’s annual revenue.

A swiftlet house close to the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine in Pasir Panjang, Kalimantan Borneo

Modern day swiftlet nest farming is really quite simple.  Farmers build large, concrete bird houses the size of warehouses or large barns.  These giant bird houses contain small holes from top to bottom and on all sides where the swiftlets can come in and leave.  They are lured to the houses by audio recordings of swiftlet songs.  If the birds deem the conditions to be suitable, they will build their nests in the shape of shallow cups against the walls.  Nests are built throughout a very long breeding season of nine months beginning in August and ending in April.  The nests are built cooperatively between breeding pairs and take about 35 days to complete.  Nests are composed of interwoven strands of saliva which are cemented to the wall.  Swiftlets utilize a multi-brooding reproductive strategy; they try to reproduce as often as they can throughout the breeding season.  This reproductive strategy allows for the collection of multiple nests from the same individuals without interfering with the development of the young birds.  After the nests are harvested, they are cleaned and packaged for export.

Swiftlets have a high energy requirement.  They are almost always in flight and moult during breeding season.  Their diet consists entirely of insects.  The swiftlets will only live and breed in areas that contain abundant forest habitat where many insects thrive.  If a bird house is constructed in an area that is not near forest habitat or near an adequate food source, the swiftlets will not breed there.  Additionally, if the conditions within the house are less than desirable (dirty, small space, poor air circulation, etc.), the swiftlets will seek out a more suitable breeding site.  The swiftlets have complete control of where they breed, how often they breed, or if they breed at all.  Swiftlet offspring are encouraged to grow to adulthood by human managers as the young birds are needed to continue nest production in the future.  These characteristics suggest that this industry is potentially sustainable with proper regulation and forest preservation.  Because these nests are in such high demand, there is the possibility that this industry could replace illegal logging and other destructive practices in Borneo.  Not only is this a lucrative business opportunity for bird house owners and producers, the industry has expanded to include industry-specific consultants, contractors, hardware suppliers, transport companies, and job opportunities for locals within communities.

Another example of a swiftlet nest house, in Thailand.

Swiftlet farming in Borneo appears to be a sustainable and environmentally sound industry.   Creating jobs and reducing the rate at which forests are destroyed is an added bonus.  Many of these farms are located within city limits – much to the chagrin of neighbours trying to get a peaceful night’s sleep.  However, the loud noise pollution produced by the birds could be a deterrent to building farms within city-limits in the future.  Moving bird farms outside of cities can also help support the need for forest protection.  If the birds are happy, the people are happy, the forest is happy, the orangutans are happy too.

Birds Nest Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

2 ounces (60g) swiftlet nest

7-8 tablespoons rock sugar

4 cups water

Directions:

1. Soak the bird nests in cold water for several hours or overnight
2. Rinse well.  Remove any feathers
3. Bring a pot of water to a boil and simmer nests for about 5 minutes.  Rinse well and squeeze dry.  Repeat.
4. Place nests in a pot and add water.  Bring to a boil and simmer until soft (about 2 hours)
5. Add rock sugar and stir to dissolve.  Serve hot.

Related Articles:

1. Environmental Enrichment: Natural Feeding Behaviors
2. Enrichment: Week III
3. OFI forest purchasing, orangutan nests and pitcher plants.

Once lush forest, this zircon mining site is now a “wasteland”

Zircon, or zirconium silicate, is a mineral found worldwide; it is the most commonly mined mineral in the world. Zircon is ubiquitous in the earth’s crust and can even be found in moon rocks. Because of its abundance, it is commonly used to date other rocks and minerals. It has a melting point of over 2500 degrees Celsius, a hardness value of 7.5-8 and is highly resistant to corrosion. These factors make it a unique and versatile tool in the industrial world. The main use for zircon is in ceramics, insulation, and abrasive cleaners. It is used to make many other industrial products such as engines, electronics, spacecraft, vacuum tubes, surgical appliances, flash bulbs, explosives, and is even used in nuclear reactors. You may be surprised to learn that zircon, or a derivative, is also found in many daily household items such as ballpoint pens, computers, light bulbs, wear-resistant knives, protective clothing, and even some itch-soothing lotions. Zircon is the palm oil of the industrial world as it is used in almost everything.

Sand-sized grains of zircon.

One of the modern birthstones for December, zircon crystals can be red, brown, yellow, hazel, or black. For mining purposes, it is the small particles found throughout sand that are useful. Prospecting for zircon is very similar to prospecting for gold; a pan is used to sift through sand and water to discover if zircon is present. When found, large quantities of sand are removed from the earth and put through a series of physical purifying stages. Each of these stages removes large rocks and other impurities from the fine sand containing the zircon. Requiring copious amounts of water to remove smaller and smaller impurities, what is left at the end of the process is a black sludge containing mostly zircon. Magnetic and electrostatic separation is then used to remove other metals. The final step in purification is a chlorine wash before the zircon is ready for industrial usage. Most of the zircon mining in Indonesia is only for the raw material. The processing occurs in China after tons of sand are extracted and shipped. However, some Indonesian mining companies are starting to complete the initial refining stages on-site.

On-site zircon separation machine.

The zircon mining industry faced a recession in 2009 resulting in an overall 18 percent reduction in zircon consumption. This recession is now over and the industry has rebounded with zircon reaching record global prices. In the past ten years, Zircon consumption has increased by 10 percent in Asia alone. Currently, production cannot keep up with demand. Global zircon demand is forecast to increase by another 5 percent through 2015. An increase in demand can only mean an increase in zircon mines in Indonesia, specifically Kalimantan. Borneo is ideal for zircon mining due to the large amounts of sand covering the island. What does this mean for orangutans? Unfortunately, the outlook is not good. By comparison, zircon mining sites make palm oil plantations look good.

Human-made “lake” used in the zircon purification process.

The real question is what can be done about this? Most immediately, you can help OFI save the Rawa Runo Legacy Forest and subsequent sections of forest that we are able to protect. In the long term, you can reduce your overall consumption of zircon. Since zircon is used in so many products, it would be nearly impossible to avoid it altogether like you can do with palm oil. You can think about your consumption in general and make an effort to simply use less.

Zircon mining equipment adjoining the Rawa Kuno Legacy Forest

It’s occasionally difficult to read a book or watch a movie without coming across some reference to the wilds of Borneo. After being here for three months and seeing the landscape, it’s hard to understand what these references are all about. All I keep seeing are palm trees, scorched earth bearing nothing but black stumps, and miles of sand. Where are all the trees I keep reading about? Where did the forest go? It’s in our living rooms, kitchen cupboards, and driveways. The forests of Borneo have been transformed and relocated to the western world. Please let your daily lives be a reminder of what has been lost and of what can be restored.

Hazy sunset over a decimated forest

Related Articles:

1. Sign the Petition
2. Join our RAN network
3. OFI’s Forest Protection Initiative: Direct Purchase of Forests

OFI needs your help to win part of a three million dollar Chase grant. Time is critical and if OFI can stay within the top 100 charities voted for through Facebook, OFI will receive a $25,000 grant to help orangutans and orangutan habitat. If you have a Facebook account and 2 minutes to spare to help orangutans then we urgently need your vote to keep us in the top 100. You just need a Facebook account and 2 minutes. Yesterday we were at number 93 and now we are have dropped below the threshold for the $25,000 grant. With only a few hours left, OFI and orangutans urgently need your help.

How to Vote for OFI

1. Click on this link
2. Then click on the green button that says “Vote & Share.”
3. You may be prompted to like the Chase Community Giving page. Please “like” their page.
4. Make sure to click on the “Vote & Share” button afterwards or your vote may not go through

• When you click on the Vote & Share button, a new window will open that states: “Chase Community Giving” is requesting permission to do the following…”. This window will have an “Allow” button that needs to be clicked before your vote is registered.
• Once you click the “Allow” button, a new message will appear that says “Vote & Share” at the bottom.
• Please note, that your vote is not complete unless you click the button that says “Vote & Share” and see the message “Thanks for your Vote” and the vote count increases. The link to Vote will appear on your Facebook page after you have voted successfully. Thank you for your vote and supporting orangutans and the OFI

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3. Events Calendar

I have chosen Uttuh (pronounced “oo-too”) to be Orangutan of the Month for one simple reason: her eyes. Really they are little different from the eyes of any other infant orangutan at the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) except for dazzling white rings that circle her irises. Her eyes are absolutely stunning. So is Uttuh. At one year of age, Uttuh has not quite developed her full personality yet but she is well on her way. A gentle character paired with a beautiful face make Uttuh hard to resist by humans with emotions. When I visit Uttuh, I can tell right away that she is different from her closest friends. While they are still shy and a little scared of unfamiliar people, Uttuh is the first to reach out and connect with me. She is also the first orangutan who I have truly made smile – how could I not choose her as Orangutan of the Month?

Uttuh's enchanting eyes.

Uttuh arrived at the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) this year. She was rescued by an Indonesian wildlife organization from a palm oil plantation where her mother was being chased with sticks. The story is that Uttuh’s mother was so terrified that she had no choice but to leave Uttuh in the middle of the plantation road. The probable real story is that Uttuh’s mother was killed. When Uttuh arrived at the OCCQ, she weighed only 3.5 kilograms (8 lbs). She currently weighs 7.5 kilograms (16.5 lbs). With the fate of her mother unknown, Uttuh is utterly dependent on the care given by OFI. Infant orangutans spend the first four years of life clinging to their mothers. Once juveniles, orangutans spend the next four years not far from their mother’s watchful eyes. Uttuh will need to be with her new “mother” for many, many years. By the look on Miss Tika’s face when she holds Uttuh, I don’t think she minds. Uttuh and her friends all have new “mothers” at the OCCQ. “Mothers” who bathe them, feed them, play with them, teach them, cuddle them, and sing to them. Most of the caregivers at the nursery have children of their own and love their orangutan babies almost as much as their own babies.

Uttuh and Miss Tika on the way to the forest.

Right now, Uttuh would rather play on the ground than in the forest canopy as she is completely fascinated with dirt! She digs, picks up handfuls, puts it on her face and even in her mouth. Trial and error is a great way of learning what is good to eat! However, if you give her leafy branches, she will spend the whole day attempting to build a nest. She sits in the middle of the pile and bends the long ends in towards the center, patting them down as she goes. Her instincts are strong but she still has yet to learn where these branches actually come from. There is no rush to hone this skill as she has many more years before she will have to do it on her own. She also likes to cover her head with branches; a behavior expressed when orangutans are caught in the rain. Why sit miserably in the rain when you can make your own umbrella? Uttuh is not a picky eater and likes the fruit of all seasons here in Borneo. Her favourite treat are the berries found in the forest near the OCCQ. But she is very polite and waits for the berries to be picked by her caregiver before tasting.

Uttuh making an “umbrella” with branches.

Uttuh has a bulbous, rather full-looking, belly. This is a great indication of her health. Uttuh’s big belly means that she is getting enough fruit to eat but more importantly, enough milk to drink. I love tickling Uttuh’s belly; it brings a huge smile to my face. Uttuh returns my smile with an open mouth showing her small teeth and dark gums. Her eyes squint or even close when I tickle her. She enjoys this as much as I do! This interaction never last very long. However, Uttuh is always on the go – never sitting still. She is like a busy little bee! She is much too busy to sit still for even a moment to capture a photo of her beautiful eyes.

Uttuh cautiously eating a berry from the forest.

Uttuh will be in the care of OFI for many years until she is old enough for release. OFI is dedicated to ensuring that Uttuh grows up to become strong, smart, and self-sufficient. But Uttuh is not the only one. There are currently fifty-two orangutans in OFI’s nursery. Fifty-two infants without mothers. Fifty-two lives turned upside down by the destructive actions of humans. Fifty-two chances to make a difference and re-build lives. Without OFI, Uttuh and her nursery-mates would likely not have survived. If they had, they would become pets crammed into small cages; used to entice customers into restaurants, shops, etc. or far worse. At the OCCQ, Uttuh can focus her attention on playing, eating, and all the other wonderful things that orangutan infants do.

A content Uttuh in the arms of Miss Tika.

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2. Otok – Orangutan of the Month
3. Orangutan of the Month: Goran

Enrichment Volunteer of Summer 2011, Kristin Abt

After I left my position as a long-term Environmental Enrichment volunteer at OFI’s Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) in Kalimantan Tengah, I decided I wanted to share some of my experiences about the amazing place where I interned and the wonderful village that I called home for the summer of 2011.

I came to the Center in June and knew instantly that it was going to be a unique, life-changing experience. The rehabilitation and sanctuary projects were environments in which I learned something new every day about the orangutans, Indonesian and Dayak culture, conservation issues, and myself.

My favorite orangutan, Ginger, eating peanuts and looking into the forest (Photo: Wendy DiPaoli)

As a trained zookeeper, I was constantly challenged to temporarily set aside my prior notions about how to work with animals. At the Center, the orangutans are the priority and the staff are not only their caretakers, but also their family. Conversations about the orangutans’ behavior and health could easily be mistaken for conversations about close friends or neighbors. Discussions about the emotive states of certain orangutans, what their favorite foods are, their antics in play, and other details are commonplace. At the Center every orangutan is treated and discussed as an individual.

Young orangutan enjoying the rambutan fruit season

While trying to implement enrichment activities in the orangutans’ sleeping enclosures at OCCQ, knowledge of individuals is paramount.  The local staff’s knowledge of individual orangutans is extraordinary.   With help from the staff, we learned which orangutans could potentially rip apart hammocks, who would most benefit from raisin-stuffed coconuts, how strong a tire swing needed to be, etc. Communication and getting to know the people, orangutans, and the place was the biggest challenge, but also the biggest reward.

Having the chance to interact with orangutans on a daily basis was an absolute privilege. I’ve had my nose tasted, my belly button inspected, my scratches and mosquito bites probed, and my headband stolen, but in spite of this, the most exhilarating experiences for me personally consisted of watching orangutans climbing trees or exploring their enrichment materials. Observing orangutans where they belong (the forest!) and working daily to make their sleeping enclosures as comfortable and interesting as possible gave me so much satisfaction.

Daily Fern Collection (“Cari Daun”) for Erichment Parcel Making

The work was challenging: cutting branches and ferns, hammering holes into tires, sawing branches for swings, and hanging items in enclosures.  The work is time-consuming, hard and sometimes tedious. However, caring for animals is never easy from a physical, financial, and emotional perspective. The central shared goal of improving the quality of care for orangutans at the Center keeps staff and volunteers alike dedicated to the mission of OFI.

I came to the village of Pasir Panjang with the intention of bringing things. I shoved socks and t-shirts inside PVC pipes and vacuum-sealed fleece in my luggage. I brought lists and articles shared with me from the zoo community. I brought donations from family and friends. What I did not realize until I left was that – while all of these material things were useful and important – I gained so much more from this place than what I possibly could contribute to it as one person.

Sunset in Pasir Panjang

People welcomed me into their home as if I were a member of the family, shared meals, coffee breaks, and aerobics exercise at the Center, and invited me into their lives as a friend. The orangutans showed me a glimpse of the challenges that they face as a species, the needs they have as individuals in the rehabilitation process, and the similarities that they share with us as human beings. Although both people and orangutans offered me food (though bananas from Eric, the juvenile orangutan, were appreciated), I much preferred the classic Indonesian nasi goreng and gado-gado!. Both people and orangutans taught me their “language.” And, both people and orangutans made me feel as though I belonged. Muda mudahan, saya bisa kembali nanti dan bantu orangutans lagi! (Hopefully, I can return later and help the orangutans even more!)

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Ibu Maryanti delivering her presentation on OFI's Holistic Environmental Enrichment Program at the ICEE conference.

This August OFI was proud to participate in the 10^th International Conference for Environmental Enrichment (ICEE) hosted by the Oregon Zoo and the Oregon National Primate Research Center in Portland, Oregon.  Organized by The Shape of Enrichment, ICEE is an annual conference where individuals and organizations from all corners of the globe meet to present innovative ideas and success stories in the field of animal enrichment.  OFI was represented by Ibu Maryanti, Enrichment Coordinator for OFI’s Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ).  Ibu Maryanti, with the help of local assistants and a team of volunteers, is responsible for enriching the lives of the 330 orangutans currently in the care of OFI.  Ibu Maryanti not only attended the conference, but also presented to the 300 attendees.  The five-day conference included over 80 presentations outlining enrichment strategies for numerous animal species from fish to mammals.

Making fern leaf parcels stuffed with bean sprouts at the Orangutan Care and Quarantine Center.

Ibu Maryanti spoke of the daily enrichment the orangutans under OFI’s care receive as part of the Holistic Environmental Enrichment Program.  OFI’s orangutans receive structural enrichment items such as hammocks and swings in their sleeping enclosures.  However, it was the fern leaf parcels that were the biggest hit with conference attendees. Fresh fern leafs are collected daily at the OCCQ and wrapped around various food items such as gelatin squares, peanut butter, noodles, and soy bean sprouts.  The parcels provide the orangutans with a task to complete in order to receive the “reward”.  The fern leaves also give orangutans nesting materials to re-use in making night nests.  It is common for enrichment items to be placed into boxes or plastic containers but rarely are natural materials used that provide a strong dual function for the animal.  At the conference Ibu Maryanti’s fern parcels were acknowledged as an innovative idea from “outside the box.”

Ibu Maryanti ready to give her presentation at the ICEE conference in Portland, Oregon.

Ibu Maryanti was selected from many applicants to receive a scholarship to attend the conference.  Not only did this scholarship provide her with the opportunity to share OFI’s work with an international audience, but also it provided the opportunity for her to travel outside of Indonesia for the very first time.  Although Ibu Maryanti had an amazing three-week international adventure, she was happy to return home to meals of rice and hot chillies. She was especially happy to return to her family.  Attending the conference sparked some great new ideas for enrichment at the OCCQ, especially for the large male orangutans who cannot be released on a daily basis. The opportunity to meet new people and make direct contacts with other professionals in her field was one of the most rewarding aspects of the conference for Ibu Maryanti.  She feels fortunate to have been awarded both the scholarship and the travel opportunity to North America and is looking forward to attending next year’s ICEE in the Philippines.

Ibu Maryanti (back row, second from left) with ICEE conference colleagues

Ibu Maryanti gives much credit to the dedicated enrichment volunteers for the success of OFI’s enrichment program.  She also acknowledges the generous donations from OFI members and supporters for their contributions.  Ibu Maryanti truly loves her job and the orangutans she works with every day.  Enrichment is vital to the rehabilitation process and to the daily lives of all animals, not just orangutans.  If you are interested in donating to the OFI’s Holistic Environmental Enrichment Program, please visit our Amazon.com Wish List to donate enrichment items and medical supplies.
Learn more about the International Conference on Environmental Enrichment by visiting The Shape of Enrichment’s website at www.enrichment.org.

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