Orang-utan

Being in Borneo we wanted to get a glimpse of these great apes. Aside from making a full on expedition into the deep bush one of the best ways to do that is to visit a handful of wildlife reserves and sanctuaries. Semengoh Orangutan Sanctuary in Sarawak is one of the best places in Borneo to do that.

There are about two dozen orangutans in this reserve, mostly those rescued and rehabilitated from the illegal wildlife trade in some way. They are very much wild, but can be tempted down sometimes with fruit, especially bananas and coconuts. There is just not enough forest remaining to support so many in this reserve, and not easy or viable to find many suitable forests elsewhere anymore. Still, they only show up occasionally. We were very lucky.

Despite a disastrous morning - a missed ride to the reserve and a torrential downpour - all was made up for by the tingling excitement and awe of being able to glimpse these special creatures. Seeing just one is lucky enough, but we saw over a dozen! Mothers, babies and even the huge resident male, Richie. It was a day we both won't ever forget. A conservation of eyes beyond the species barrier. A visit with close cousins and still moments of quite revelation.