My Encounter with Orangutan in ShangriLa Borneo Malaysia
The rain forest of Borneo, Malaysia is home to Orangutans. Orangutans are large gentle creatures and you will be surprised to know 98% of their DNA matches with us humans. (Probably the other 2% is that of violent streak which is present in humans!!! )
Threat to Orangutans
Poachers target these gentle animals, often killing the mother to catch the baby orangutans and later sell them as pets. The rainforest areas too have been declining due to ever increasing demand for timber. Net result the orangutans are facing extinction within next 10 years.
Orangutan Rehabilitation at ShangriLa Kota Kinabalu
At ShangriLa Rasa Ria Resort, where we stayed for 3 days, I witnessed the daily interaction of an orangutan with his caretaker. The Rasa Ria Resort of ShangriLa has been working for rehabilitation of these orangutans. They bring in orphaned, injured orangutans. These precious creatures are looked after well, made fit to face tough jungle life and are then released to where they originally belonged.
There was a video show for all visitors showing the various stages of the orangutan’s recovery. It was interesting to see how from the day of their arrival they are taken care. Trained vets treat their injuries if any and diet plan made meticulously. Finally when the orangutans are completely okay they are let off to jungles. After a short nature walk we were taken to the feeding area of the orangutan. The resort has 2 of them. We heard the caretaker calling out to the orangutan. Moments passed, we were straining ourselves and looking around among the branches to spot it. It took a while for the orangutan to come!
Encounter with Orangutan
Ssshhh… all went hush hush, lest we disturb him. He came swinging in the branches. I was seeing one at such a close distance for the first time. Got a good position among the crowd, I managed to take a short video of it. Hope you will enjoy seeing him.
Update:
After several petitions filed ShangriLa has now stopped this rehabilitation center for Orangutans. In April 2016 last of the Orangutans have been released to the jungles.
hats off to you for being able to capture these shots. It is so good to know and quiet relieving too, that they take care of Orangutans so well. These animals need nothing but care and love.
Also, one interesting fact which I thought of sharing with you. Did you know that Orangutans have the longest birth interval among the mammal species? They give birth on average once every eight years 😮 🙂
I didn’t know that. Thanks for sharing the info.
They look so heart-warming… but how heartless some are to kill these precious/pristine species
Fantastic shots and video of the critters. Have a great week.
Thanks for posting this, Indrani. I hope humanity can avoid the extermination of yet another species.
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Lucky you! They're amazing animals.
It´s wonderful, to see such animals in nature !
Wonderful wildlife photography.
Here is a new photo action
Maybe you feel like, even to connect a contribution also here
Nature and to animals, etc. is the thema.
It would be an enrichment for my new action!
I would be very happy.
Google Translater exists.
Greetings from Germany
Jutta
Hello Indrani, awesome post on the orangutan.. They are cool! It is sad they are poached. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy weekend!
What a precious experience. I would love to see and hold a baby orangutan. The adults too seem like such gentle creatures whenever I've seen them in documentaries.
beautiful captures and sadly some beings human beings never learn to respect wildlife.
Beautiful video Indrani..All the pictures are stunning.Yes poaching laws should be strict.No one should kill such h gentle creatres.
I recently visited Malaysia but missed Borneo and kota Kinbalu , may be need to plan another trip to explore Malaysia
Great post and awesome pics. Love this fellow being 🙂
Awesome pics and lovely video Indrani!!
Great set of nature images Indrani. Seems like orangutan is having lot of fund in his natural habitat 🙂
Such lovely Orangotangs! Must be really nice to see them from close quarters. So sad that many of them are killed for palm oil.
Lovely pics In! I rubbed shoulders with them in Pattaya! Awesome creatures 🙂
That was a wonderful clip and lovely captures too!
Loved your intro line 🙂
What lively images !! My daughter just had a gala time copying the last image ..and for the 2-3 days she will be Pihurangutan 🙂 🙂
Yes poaching laws ought to be more strict…
They are similar to human beings. But always assiduous and active…!
The laws against poachers should be more strict! How could one kill such innocent looking animals… 🙁
How cruel to kill the mother so the young ones can be sold as pets! Humans can be so selfish!
Such interesting and beautiful creatures. Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful captures of the unique animal.
Lucky you! What a great experience.
WoW! Such gorgeous photos and you have also made a lovely video! I enjoyed it soooo! 🙂
Beautiful moving Orangutan, stunning Indrani.
Thank you very much for the suggestion Haddock. I will add music to it.
wish I could move like that from tree to tree.
Adding a light music to the video would have made it better Indrani.
Beautiful images of the orangutan in the green!
such soulful eyes.