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Two orangutans sat on top of a new wooden platform in the trees.

News

Nursery changes

Our Sepilok team have been working extra hard recently expanding and adapting the facilities in the nurseries.

17/05/2023

Supporting the orangutans learning

It is so rewarding to see the orangutans at Sepilok thriving. They are encouraged to spend as much time as possible in the forest. It is essential that they learn the skills required to survive independently in the wild, and what better way to do this than to be surrounded by their natural environment.

At the indoor nursery, wooden platforms are built into the trees at varying heights to support the young orangutans learning to climb. The platforms serve as an incentive for the youngsters to push themselves and climb further for longer. They also make an excellent base for resting, as well as nest-building practice. It's important orangutans stay off the forest floor, where dangers are present, so encouraging them into the safety of treetops is key.

The team have also made some changes to the rope system which is designed to lead the orangutans into the forest. Moving the ropes around occasionally so that they go in a new direction can help to keep the clever orangutans on their toes!

Orangutans are extremely intelligent animals and this kind of challenge can be enriching for them. It also helps to prepare them for the ever-changing landscape of the wild. In the Bornean rainforest fruiting trees are unpredictable so orangutans will constantly travel in search of food, facing new terrestrial obstacles along the way. Introducing similar scenarios when they're young should help to ready them for later life.

Staff removing and/or replacing ropes attached to high rainforest trees with ladders.

At the outdoor nursery where some of the older adolescent and adult orangutans live, a brand new feeding platform has been constructed. This is to offer those orangutans that are ready for the next step to venture further afield in search of food. Making them work harder for their supplementary food is good for their cognition, physical health and future success in the wild.

We are so thrilled to bring this news to all of our supporters, without whom we would not be able to fund such vital work.

Photo (right): the team having just completed construction of one of the new platforms.

A group of staff who have built a new platform in the rainforest trees for the orangutans sit atop the new platform looking at the camera.

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