Returning to Uncle Tan's base camp, I decided that I would at least spend a few hours at the Orang Utan Rehabilitation center which was very close by. It is not a zoo, but a reservation with the big apes that have been held in captivity ones and is cared for now in a way that they need to learn to live in the jungle one day by themselves. This of course costs money and takes many years, so tourists coming there paying an entrance fee keeps the thing afloat.
Having just been to the jungle myself and seen the big apes with my own eyes in their own habitat, that truly is special. It even feels more special when you walk down the path to where the guys are being fed two times a day. People are talking loudly, kids are screaming and it doesn't feel special at all.
They don't guarantee any sightings here either, after all it is a huge piece of jungle they have to play around on, so if they have other plans, too bad for the tourists. But food is not only something humans tend to be attracted to, the big orange forest men were waiting patiently for the food to be served.
They are playing around on some platforms with ropes to different parts of the forest. A little one is hanging on to dear life is seem, but seeing how they can swing themselves in one or two arms, I hardly doubt they ever fall to the ground.
Soon after a park ranger appears and shouts something at some people. It appears that one of the apes is in a very friendly and curious mood today, as it has come down and are just 2 meters away looking very curiously at today's tourists. Now who is looking at whom today?
Finally the food is being served, but only 3 of the apes rush to the food, the others seem to be either shy, already full or there is a ranking inside their small society that they know in which order they can eat, not sure. At least two of them are just playing around while some of the others are having a feast.
One of the apes decides to pay us a visit after dinner, he comes over and hangs head down while examining today's crowd very carefully. It is a little special to be this close to these apes, but I do think that even though this is not a zoo, it is not the real thing to meet them here. Great opportunities for the camera, yes, but they are not supposed to look into your camera and smile, that's not real. At least I had my moment just 24 hours ago, maybe not the best pictures, but I don't need that.
That being said, I think it is a good attempt at rehabilitating the apes, but it is a long project and there are no guarantees that it will help.
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