ARE ORANGUTANS EMPATHETIC?
It was a usual day at the Nyaru Menteng forest school, where young orangutans were learning from one another while their human surrogate mothers looked on from below.
In recent months, Sayang has not appeared around Camp Lesik. Unlike before, when the families of Sayang and Lesan were often seen spending time together around Camp Lesik, in recent months only Lesan and her two offspring have been spotted in the area.
Sayang and her daughter, Padma, were recently seen along the main transect, still close to Camp Lesik. Both were engrossed in chewing Ficus, sp. As usual, our Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team observed the mother-daughter pair and took notes.
This time, Sayang had a surprise for the team. Her stomach appeared to have grown bigger and her vulva was enlarged, indicating that Sayang may be following in Lesan’s footsteps by having another forest-born baby. This is good news for the orangutan population in the Kehje Sewen Forest.
Lesan & Sayang are having a party (Photo credit: Usup)
Sayang (Photo credit: Usup)
Padma (Photo credit: Kris)
Padma (Photo credit: Avita)
We can’t wait to hopefully see Sayang’s new baby clinging to her in the Kehje Sewen Forest, increasing the wild orangutan population. Padma will then be a big sister - just like Ayu, Lesan’s firstborn!
Read also: AYU IS GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER!
It was a usual day at the Nyaru Menteng forest school, where young orangutans were learning from one another while their human surrogate mothers looked on from below.
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