Kumai River Cruise and Orangutans!

Monday morning found us waiting for our pick up... and waiting, and waiting. This operation was definitely working on Indonesian "rubber time". We finally got everyone collected onto our large river cruise boat... well-used “rustic” would describe the boat best. Although we had three boats for sleeping (16 of us in our group) on the 3-day/2-night cruise in the Tanjung Puting National Park, we all traveled and ate together on one boat.

We visited three orangutan feeding stations, one each day of the trip. Many of the orangs are totally wild, but some are semi-wild, having been orphans released back into the forest after rehabilitation. They are still somewhat dependent on the daily feedings. Those feedings also help the tourism, as many of us were there watching and snapping photos. Below are two of the MomOrangs… the babies will hold on and travel with their moms for about the first 4-5 years and then they will start venturing on their own, but still stay close to mom.

 

There were times past when people bought and sold orangs, not caring for them properly, etc. Thankfully, the Indonesian government has outlawed this and the orangs seem to be holding their own in the national park. They are still threatened elsewhere, as rainforest and jungle are being cut down and replaced with palm oil plantations. I recently learned that it is less the palm oil in foods we eat, and more as a supplement for fuel... or maybe they can use it as fuel on its own... not sure about that. But what I am sure about is that only 37% of the rainforest remains in Borneo and the animals are losing their habitat. This, along with the pervasive trash problem all over Indonesia, makes me terribly sad.

On day 2 while several boats were rafted up and waiting to hike into the feeding station, we watched a mischievous orang sneak on board the boat next to us and steal a can of condensed milk from the table. Other cruisers who had done the tour just before us reported the same event, so I somehow suspect that this was part of the routine show. The orang knew just what to grab and the boat operators knew exactly when to look the other way and leave the table unattended! :-) Here is the thief with loot in hand…

 

 

  On the way to the orang feeding, an Orang walked along the path with us. Then she reached up and took the arm of one of the cruisers, who I’m sure was in a state of shock and fright. Then she walked on and let others on the tour hold her (or she them). Eventually she got smart and put hands and feet up so that some of the folks were carrying her most of the way.  Now that’s a good example of how intelligent the Orangs are… they are fed daily and somehow arrange to be carried to the feeding area as well! Yep, I’m on the left (below) walking with a new friend.

That same day, on the way back from the orang feeding, we had a very close encounter with a male orang. I was walking along the path ahead of Roger and we were both back a bit from the rest of our group. I heard a rustling to my right and stopped to look. There, larger than life, was a big male orang. We looked at each other and then I saw Roger heading right for him. I yelled for him to stop, but he kept on until I repeated it more urgently. He said, "whaaaat?" and when I told him to look to his right, he saw him. He put out his hand, which might have been interpreted as a somewhat aggressive gesture, and the orang made threatening noises and postures, so Roger decided to head back up the path in the direction we came from... the orang followed him. Luckily there was another tour group and the guide told Roger just to move off the path... the orang just wanted to get by him and get to the food. Whew!... what a scare!

On the last day of the tour we saw the big king below left... what an impressive creature he is.

We feel so fortunate to have been able to do this trip and visit with the Orangs (as well as our friends traveling with us!

with Equanimity and Joy (and Orangs)