Immature male proboscis monkey on river's edge

Very little primary rainforest remains in the immediate vicinity of Pangkalan Bun. This is why OFI’s four hectare relict rainforest sanctuary, 10 minutes outside the town center and 15 minutes away from the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine, is so precious. It is also a refuge for several families of wild proboscis monkeys and crab-eating macaques.

Previously a private, entertainment-type zoo, the land and all its captive and free-ranging wildlife was purchased by the Orangutan Foundation International (OFI)  in 2008. Most of the captive residents, which included birds, a proboscis monkey, and crab-eating macaques, were released locally. The gibbon was transported to a well-regarded gibbon rehabilitation center near Palangka Raya.  The Malay sun bear  badly needed medical attention and was transferred to the Care Center as were a pair of binturong or bearcats.  A cassowary, a large, jewel-colored land bird from the island of New Guinea, which could not be released in non-native Borneo,  is also living at the Care Center until release.

OFI’s president, Dr. Galdikas,  began negotiations to close down the ex-zoo when she saw the deplorable conditions endured by the zoo animals.  She was particularly concerned about the bear which was suffering from mange, drank rainwater from a murky cistern, and had no shade from the equatorial sun.

Oscar the Proboscis Monkey rescued by OFI

Now, the empty cages are picturesquely overgrown with creepers. The lowland peat swamp forest is a miniature natural herbarium and garden, full of the pale trunks and stiff, bright green leaves so typical of tropical forests. At any time of the year, some plant or other is fruiting. A small river flows to the side.  It is a safe oasis of biodiversity in an area that is rapidly urbanizing.  The non-invasive, raised wooden walkways allow locals and visitors to appreciate the sanctuary’s flora and fauna in their own community.

Another treasure in the  former zoo is a central ironwood house on stilts, with a satellite kitchen and large, stilted front veranda. Currently serving as home base for OFI’s volunteer teams, it is being considered as a location for the creation of a local natural history museum.