At Forest School, there is no academic calendar to dictate when an orangutan is ready to advance. Instead, it is their own behavior that decides, measured by how far they explore the canopy, how varied their natural diet becomes, and how little they rely on the humans around them.
Ecky, Klaus, and Frank have proven they possess all these skills. And on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the trio officially took a major step closer to their ultimate release back into the wild.
On moving day, Klaus and Frank were the first to be prepared. They were sedated before being brought to the clinic for a thorough health screening. With a clean bill of health, Klaus and Frank were then transported to the Forest School Level 2 site inside secure transport cages.
Upon arrival at their new home, Klaus and Frank underwent a habituation period in the night cages for a few days. This gave them the much-needed time to familiarize themselves with the unfamiliar sounds, scents, and rhythms of the surrounding environment.
Observation data on Klaus and Frank’s feeding habits played a critical role in the decision to move them. In a single day, the duo consumed more than four types of natural forest food, accounting for 35% of the total food types available during Forest School Level 1.
This impressive feat easily surpassed the minimum standards required by the Animal Welfare and medical teams to advance to the next level.
Among the three orangutans, Ecky had a slightly different moving day story.
Ecky did not need to be sedated to be moved from the Forest School Level 1 enclosure. She was still cooperative enough to be handled directly by the technicians. In other words, Ecky literally walked into the next chapter of her life, free from the need for a transport cage, a clinic checkup, and a long drive to the new site.
At Level 2, Ecky joined Klaus and Frank in the night cages for a shared habituation phase.
This habituation process is standard practice to closely monitor an orangutan's behavior after transitioning from Forest School 1 to Forest School 2. The duration of this phase depends entirely on daily observations, specifically watching for any signs of stress the orangutans might display post-move.
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By the end of March, the trio began being introduced to Forest School Level 2 activities in gradual stages. While their hours out in the forest were initially limited, this was by no means a setback. Rather, it was a deliberate strategy to ensure their adaptation to the new environment remained highly optimal.
Come early April, the real journey will begin. Ecky, Klaus, and Frank will start attending full-time school activities.
After all, the true essence of Forest School Level 2 is no longer just about learning to recognize the forest, it is about learning to trust it as the place they finally call home.
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