Orang-u-tans :)

Today I achieved one of my life time ambitions - i travelled to Sepilock to visit the Sepilock Orang-u-tan Rehabilitation Centre 'SORC' (30MYR/£6). The trip was via the local bus (Batu 14 / 4MYR/80p) which takes about 40mins dropping off just outside the centre. SORC itself is located on the edge of Sepilock tropical rain forest reserve and this allows the Orangu-tans to have a larger range in their natural habitat. The centre is well organised and volunteers from all over the world come to assist in the rehabilitation of the orang-u-tans - it is an opportunity to talk with the staff and find out more about the work undertaken to re-introduce orang-u-tans to the wild and the video is well worth 20mins of your time.
The walk to the feeding station is along a raised walkway and to my amazement there was an orang-u-tan with her baby walking along the railing within touching distance! (encircled by fascinated western tourists with cameras at the ready) The walkway opens up into a large viewing area surrounded by tropical trees with ropes which connect to the central feeding platform. There are a number of other tourists here all equipped with cameras at the ready...
Soon there is the first site of the orang-u-tans at the feeding station as they swing in along the rope ways. The lythe confidence of their graceful movement is a wonder to behold. Bananas are spread over the platform by a ranger and the mother with her baby is the first to arrive, sitting near to the ranger and peeling a banana and beginning to feed, this is the sign fort the ranger to move away. Over a short time another 'teen' orang-u-tan turns up and lingers on another platform playing with a leaf and looking on while a large male turns up and sits with the female/baby - this is when the magic happens... The 'father' begins to sit by the mother and baby and they share intimet moments together by eating and pampering the baby, the baby itself looks around with its large brown orbs and they completly absorb you :) Amazing.
The visit allows you to watch the great apes for an hour and their behaviour around the baby is just like humans. They are joined by a bearded monkey who grabs at bananas and sits on the very edge of the platform keeping an eye on the orang-u-tans, who regally ignore him.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Terry Pratchett, who gave me a love for this human like ape through the portrayal of the librarian in his Discworld novels and who, at a book signing, introduced me to the plight of the orang-u-tan in Borneo and who encouraged me to visit them - this was ten years ago now and I remember him signing my shirt and me saying that I would go to Borneo - well although ten years have passed I have finally achieved this dream,. although the shirt did not come with me due to its weight!! :) So once again Thank you (If you have not read any Terry Pratchett books and like humurous novels give them a try :))
By the end of the visit I had adopted an orang-u-tan called 'Sen' who is apparantly a bit cheeky! so I look forward to hearing about him as he grows and makes it back into the wilds of Borneo.
You can find out more about adopting orang-u-tans at their web site www.orangutan-appeal.org.uk
Lastely, did you know that 'orang-u-tan' when translated simply means "Man of the forest"?