Shy is not a word that can be applied to Faisal. Faisal is a fireball in the forest. He likes climbing trees, especially the tallest ones. In the forest canopy he builds himself small day nests or gathers young leaves for snacks. Occasionally he makes nests on the ground as well.

When not climbing into the canopy, Faisal also enjoys splashing around in the mud puddles of the peatswamp forest with his friends, Omri and Mitchell. In fact, the three are so close that they refuse to be separated into different sleeping enclosures at night.

Faisal has a reputation that far precedes him: he likes to test out any new caregivers with his teeth and inquisitive fingers. All human newbies are warned on their first day of jungle school to keep two eyes on Faisal. In addition, whenever there is an orangutan wrestling match going on somewhere in the forest, Faisal almost always makes his way over to get in on a little bit of the action.

But Faisal can be very sweet and affectionate as well. Faisal was named after the fourteen year old boy who voluntarily gave up his pet orangutan to the Care Center, over the initial objections of his grandfather who thought he should be reimbursed for Faisal's purchase price. Dr. Galdikas, of course, refused to give a penny (really rupiah) but won the boy over with the promise that he could come anytime he wanted to see "his" orangutan at the Care Center. The boy Faisal actually did come to visit orangutan Faisal at the Center a few times even though he lived half a days' journey away.