Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary
The work that they do with these orangutans is incredible! They are keeping them alive and safe, but not taming them which is incredibly important. The orangutans can come and go as they please, they can choose to come back or stay out in the wild.
This centre was established in 1964 to help rehabilitate orangutans which had been orphaned. Just like a human baby, the orphaned young orangutan (which would normally live with its mother for 5-6 years) needs to be taught how to cope in the wild, while its health is carefully monitored during rehabilitation.
The mixed dipterocarp forest offers a natural home to the orangutans, which slowly become less dependent on their twice-daily feeding of milk and bananas at the centre and eventually return voluntarily to the wild.
Visitors to Sepilok are able to witness the feeding sessions at 10am and 3 pm from a platform and viewing gallery reached via a boardwalk through the lush forest, and later learn even more in the information centre.
Because many human diseases affect Orangutans, visitors are not allowed to touch them – although an appealing young animal wandering up to you on the boardwalk is hard to resist.
If you would like more information on this centre, please visit:
She is an 8 year old orangutan who was saved by this sanctuary. She now only comes back for food.
Orangutans are not the only animals welcome at the sanctuary for feeding time! There were quite a few of these Pig tail monkeys.
Sun Bear Reserve
Malayan sun bears are one of the most agile bears! They can climb trees and build nests in them to keep their young safe. They are the smallest bears in the world and are only found in Southeast Asia. These bears continue to be threatened by forest degradation, illegal hunting for bear parts and poaching to obtain young cubs for pet trade. The results of these threats has caused young sun bears found to be living in unnatural captive conditions in Sabah, with no access to outdoor areas.
To find out more about this, please visit:
I couldn't get a shot with just my camera, so I used the telescope to get a close up.
A fully grown sun bear trying to find for shrubbery for her nest
Find my full review on my YouTube channel:
Stay safe out there.
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