Latest news with #orangutans
BBC News
10-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Colchester Zoo orangutan enclosure fully reopens after damage
Zookeepers have fully reopened an orangutan enclosure 15 months after it was badly damaged by high roof of Rajang's Forest at Colchester Zoo was compromised when 50mph (80km/h) gusts hit the area in April repairs were made to keep it open until June 2025, when the three primates were then taken off display so engineers could build a permanent fix.A spokesman for the Essex attraction said staff were pleased to have its charismatic apes back on show after the five-week project. The orangutans - Tiga, Mali and Tatau - were not harmed in the initial they were noted to be "intrigued" by maintenance crews investigating the damage. "The roof is a fully openable roof allowing us to assist with the temperature control of the habitat, therefore not quite a straight forward repair," the zoo explained."This maintenance involved extensive scaffolding in order to replace the roof. Unfortunately, this was not a quick fix."However, the spokesman said the works were completed quicker than added: "We are very sorry that visitors were unable to see our trio of orangutans during the repair period, but we're pleased to reopen ahead of the summer holidays." The enclosure was named after 50-year-old Rajang, an orangutan best known for his fascination with women's "baby bumps" who died in was built by a specialist French company in the early apes reacted to subtle changes in sound, smell and temperature in the habitat after it was Moore, the zoo's director of science, education and training, said visitors provided "enrichment" for them."Orangutans are really curious creatures, but the roof blowing off of their enclosure wasn't what we'd planned for them to be interested in," he told the BBC in April 2024. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
SBS Australia
24-06-2025
- General
- SBS Australia
This clinic in Kalimantan implements unique scheme for locals accessing health services
In 1993, an American student, Kinari Webb, studied orangutans in Gunung Palung National Park in West Kalimantan where she saw rampant illegal logging practices carried out by local residents. 'It turned out that the community actually had a fairly good understanding of protecting the forest, but they were forced to cut down trees and sell the logs to afford health services,' said Indra, Director of the ASRI Kalimantan Foundation. In 2007, ASRI (Alam Sehat Lestari) Clinic was officially opened to give access to health care to the people residing around the National Park. Klinik ASRI in North Kayong Regency, West Kalimantan Credit: SBS Indonesian/Ade Mardiyati "We have a unique payment system," said Indra again. "Locals can pay using tree seedlings that will later be used in the reforestation program in Gunung Palung National Park, or with livestock manure to be used as fertiliser." ASRI Foundation also created a discount scheme for payment. "If in one hamlet no activities that disrupt forest sustainability are found, then all residents can get a 70 percent discount," Indra said. Local resident Mardalina or Lena once handed over thousands of tree seedlings to the clinic to pay for medical expenses and the dental prosthetics she needed. Local resident Mardalina (L) or Lena once handed over thousands of tree seedlings to the clinic to pay for medical expenses and the dental prosthetics she needed. Credit: SBS Indonesian/Ade Mardiyati "It cost me four million three hundred thousand and I paid with tree seedlings," said the mother of two. One of the former illegal loggers, Amirudin, is now a kelulut or stingless bee farmer to produce honey thanks to the Chainsaw Buy Back program from the ASRI Foundation. "We handed over our chainsaws, then ASRI helped us with business capital in return," the 35-year-old man said. "I don't make as much as from logging, but my life is much more peaceful now." Listen to the full podcast. Listen to SBS Indonesian on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 3pm. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram , and don't miss our podcasts.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Smuggled Baby Orangutans Found in Plastic Basket
Police in Thailand revealed the contents of a plastic basket they seized this week. It contained two baby orangutans. The little primates are part of the illegal market for wildlife. Their trafficker could have expected them to fetch about nine thousand dollars apiece. Authorities in Bangkok say they arrested a courier for the person selling the orangutans at a gas station in the north of the Thai capital.
The Guardian
16-05-2025
- The Guardian
Jungle trekking, rainforests and the world's largest orangutan sanctuary: why Malaysia is unmatched for outdoor adventure
Malaysia has one of the greatest levels of biodiversity of any country on Earth – and it's among just 17 to be listed as a megadiverse country. More than 50% of its land surface area is forested, and around 14% of the country is protected as a national park or nature reserve. All of which makes Malaysia a spectacular destination for wildlife watching. Around 750 species of bird have been recorded, including no fewer than 10 species of hornbill – among these the iconic rhinoceros hornbill – along with brightly coloured trogons and pittas, white-bellied sea eagles and the great slaty woodpecker, one of the largest woodpecker species in the world. Malaysia's lush tropical rainforests are home to orangutans, gibbons, proboscis monkeys, tapirs and Borneo pygmy elephants – along with more than 300 other species of mammal and a staggering number of amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates. They're also the last refuge of the majestic but critically endangered Malayan tiger, which appears on Malaysia's coat of arms. Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, just half an hour outside Sandakan, is the world's largest orangutan sanctuary, caring for injured orangutans and pairing orphaned young with older individuals. This is a wonderful place to see these highly intelligent, beautiful, but now critically endangered primates in a semi-wild environment, before they are reintroduced into their natural environment. However, nothing matches seeing these and other species in the wild, and signing up for a wildlife tour is really the way to go here. Join a trekking tour in the incredible Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary for one of the best chances of seeing orangutans in the wild. The enormous rainforests of Royal Belum state park are the best place in Malaysia to see hornbills – although not far behind is the manmade lake of Tasik Kenyir. Head to Fraser's Hill or the Cameron Highlands to see mountain peacock-pheasant. If you're up for a spot of hiking, the scope for jungle-trekking in Malaysia's spectacularly wild and unspoilt national parks is simply off the charts. Take Taman Negara national park, for example – a vast, sprawling area of rainforest, forming Malaysia's largest national park. The lush rainforest of Taman Negara is positively ancient – it's estimated to be at least 130 million years old – and in terms of hiking, the park offers everything from breathtaking canopy walkways to a four-day trek across the spine of Mount Tahan, the highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia. Join a full day's guided walk or, for a more immersive experience, take a guided two-day hike on the Keniam Trail, which includes an overnight stay in a cave. Another fantastic area for hiking is Unesco-listed Kinabalu Park, where you can trek to Mount Kinabalu – standing at 4,000 metres above sea level, it's a sight to behold. It's a minimum two-day hike with one overnight stay at a mountain hut (you'll need to apply for a permit and go with an accredited guide) – and the view is at its most sublimely impressive at sunrise. In Gunung Mulu national park, trek to the pointy rock spires known as the Pinnacles – or for something a little more sedate, hike through tea plantations in the Cameron Highlands, or visit Penang Hill near George Town. So much for land-based adventures. With nearly 900 islands and more than 350,000 hectares of coral reefs surrounded by crystal-clear waters, Malaysia offers seemingly limitless possibilities for diving and snorkelling. For experienced divers, nothing tops Sipadan – Malaysia's only oceanic island, located off the east coast of Sabah, and one of the world's premier dive sites. A steep-sided, extinct volcanic cone rising 600 metres from the ocean floor, Sipadan's wall reefs are home to a stupendous amount of marine life including more than 3,000 species of fish. Dive among hawksbill and green turtles, see whale sharks, manta rays, hammerheads and giant parrotfish, and witness huge, vortex-like shoals of barracuda swimming in their thousands. The Perhentian Islands are another popular diving and snorkelling spot, great for beginners as well as more experienced divers. Like other islands off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, such as Redang, the Perhentian Islands offer shallow dive sites with good visibility, vibrant coral reefs and plenty of marine life. Or try Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs national park off the coast of Sarawak – great for coral as its name implies, but there are also wreck dives here too. Despite the sheer scale of these landscapes – Taman Negara national park alone is nearly six times the size of nearby Singapore – access is straightforward. You can reach Taman Negara in three hours by car from Kuala Lumpur, and Unesco-listed George Town in less than a five-hour drive, while Kota Kinabalu, the gateway to climbing Mount Kinabalu, is two and a half hours away by plane. With British Airways operating direct flights daily from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur, there has never been a better time to experience the multitude of breathtaking landscapes, amazing wildlife and vibrant culture that Malaysia has to offer. For more information and to start planning your Malaysian adventure, visit
The Independent
16-05-2025
- The Independent
Thai police rescue 2 baby orangutans and arrest a trafficking suspect
Two baby orangutans have been rescued from being sold in Thailand 's capital Bangkok and a suspected trafficker arrested, police said. The orangutans were seized Wednesday night and the alleged courier for the seller was arrested at a gas station, police said. The suspect was charged with illegal possession of protected wildlife and faces up to four years in prison if convicted. Police said orangutans generally sell for 300,000 baht ($9,000) each. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists orangutans as critically endangered, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) prohibits cross-border trade in the animals. Orangutans are found only in the forests of Sumatra and Borneo, but their habitat is shrinking due to the growth of agricultural land, making them more vulnerable to poaching. Thailand over the past two decades has repatriated dozens of orangutans to Indonesia. U.S. Immigration and Customs' Enforcement and Interpol, the international police organization, estimate the annual value of the illicit wildlife trade at $10 billion to $20 billion. Police handed over the two orangutans to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation for care and safekeeping.
