The Matang Wildlife Centre is around 35kms from the centre of Kuching. It is run by the Sarawak Government and is essentially a zoo with a vision to rehabilitate wildlife where possible. The picture above is of a 2 year old orphaned orangutan that is being rehabilitated.
Young orangutans are dependent upon their mothers for four to five years and stay with their mothers for seven to eight years. This infant will be in rehabilitation for a number of years before running free in the wild.
You can get up close and personal with the young orangutans at this centre which made it unique and a worthwhile visit....and I have the memory of a poo-throwing gibbon which wanted to play with Blair!
This is a mature dominate male - the boss! Not all males grow the large cheek pads and throat sacks. It is thought that the throat sacks are for alerting receptive females that they are in the area and to keep un-flanged males out of the area. Males are solitary and only come in contact with other orangutans to breed. Seems that females prefer the flanged males as breeding partners.
This dread lord likes his milk. Saw him scoff down a two litre bottle of milk that was held by one of his handlers. This one is partially blind so will see out his retirement years in captivity. Orangutans are around 4 times as strong as a human - I have seen them open coconuts in their hands as well as leaping about in tree tops 100 feet up in the canopy.
Sharing Durian - must be love!
Teenage boys! Looking for a reaction!
Blair's friend!
There were a number of other animals around the park but the enclosures were only so so.
Found these guys hanging around the viewing platform
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