Kuching: Orangutans and Orchids

The Semenggoh Nature Reserve is only about a 40 minute drive outside Kuching.  As we approached the area it was surrounded by suburbia and I began to fear inside the nature reserve would be very sad. But the reserve was 650 hectares of a rainforest oasis.  Sadly these oases are really the only places where these magnificent creatures can survive anymore.  We saw 4 of the 21 orangutans living on the  reserve.  They are still basically wild but need supplemental  feeding in between seasons.  21 orangutans require more than 650 hectares (interestingly this area is just double the size of our co-op property in Bellingen - perhaps the co-op should raise a few orangutans.....?)  

Shades of Shamballa and Dorrigo National Park 

The first orangutan we saw was very close to the entrance. The grand old man of the group, Richie, 38 years old, came for a feed and stayed for about 20 minutes, then with a semi-disdainful backward look at us clothed and nosy primates, took a final big piece of fruit and sauntered away.  He was much bigger and hairier than I expected from pictures and even my zoo visits.

Old man Richie

We then were ushered through some lovely but wet and muddy rainforest (it rained every day in Kuching except this one) to another feeding area nestled in thick jungle.  At this feeding area the keepers called to the animals for about a half hour. After waiting patiently and the onlooking crowds growing, an 18 year old male, Annuar, came for a feed.

Annuar

About 15 minutes later, we saw some trees swaying in the distance and 12 year old Salina and her 4 month old baby came through the jungle for some fruit on the platform.  It was amazing to see them swinging through the tree tops and then be able to see them from about 30 - 50 m away.  It was magic.

Mum and Bub

Swinging through the trees

Annuar

4 month old baby

Another day we went to the northern side of the Sarawak River to Fort Margarita (next post) and the Orchid Gardens.  On the map the garden looked to be only 100 metres away from the fort.  We couldn’t see any direct route but decided to walk over some fields to the gardens.  The fields turned out to be squishy swamp and we had to turn back and take the much longer road route.  The walk though was well worth it.  There were acres of orchids of every imaginable colour and shape.  After about 5 minutes Bob had seen enough and sat on a bench while I went all around the pathways taking hundreds of photos.