www.orangutan.or.id

www.orangutan.or.id
Dodo
T
ragically, so many of the orangutans that come
into the centre are babies. Many have seen their
­mothers killed, they have been chained up and
treated ­terribly until they are rescued from the illegal
pet trade. The ­tiniest new arrivals at the centre are
looked after in the nursery, where a dedicated team of
babysitter provides them with 24-hour care, love and
­reassurance. Some of the little orangutans are only a
few months old, and the nursery is a great place to learn
how to climb, play with friends and be an orangutan.
and nets. It is a perfect place for the babies to play under
the supervision of babysitters and to learn how to climb.
Young orangutans of this age get milk to drink and some
bananas, but rarely other fruits like very sweet oranges
and mandarines, because they can’t digest too much
fruit acid. They get used to other fruits like mango and
pineapple step by step.
Dodo likes it most to climb on a net, which is made out
of old car tires and is very stable and flexible at the same
time. Being the youngest orangutan of the baby group
at the moment, he often plays by himself and doesn’t
dare to play with much older orangutans, who are much
better at climbing and much stronger than he is. Dodo
can’t cope with older orangutans, but his climbing skills
are improving from day to day..
Dodo is a young orangutan baby, who was handed over
by the centre for the Protection of Natural Resources
(BKSDA) to the orangutan rehabilitation centre ­Wanariset
– Samboja, managed by the Borneo Orangutan Survival
Foundation (BOSF). At the moment Dodo is together
with other young orangutans, in the baby group.
Things have really looked up for Dodo. He has started
making a few friends. Our Dodo is now well on his way
When it is not raining, Dodo and other young orangutans to getting the help he needs to regain the good life he
are brought on Island 1 in Samboja Lestari. Island 1 is deserves – wild and free in the forest.
an artificial, man-made island with natural vegetation,
­additional enrichment and climbing facilities like ropes
www.orangutan.or.id