You may remember, back in January, our exceedingly wet and largely unsuccessful visit to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, where they've been rehabilitating and accommodating rescued orangutans since 1975.

Of course, success is in the eye of the beholder, and the fact that no orangutans showed up to the feeding session meant that they were perfectly happy fending for themselves in the forest. Which is a big success, as far as they're concerned...

Anyway, today, we tried again, with entirely different results.


A little research had revealed that sightings are much more likely before and after the fruiting season (which is normally somewhere around November to February, although one of the rangers told us that the large amount of rain we've had recently in Kuching means it might be earlier this year).

Orangutans are also picky about the weather. If it's too wet, too cold, or too sunny, they may just not bother...

About 30 apes roam the Semenggoh reserve, and according to the ranger, about half are totally self-sufficient, and never show up for the twice-daily fruit hand-out.

But today, no fewer than seven of the animals obviously felt they'd had a bit of a thin weekend, and needed to lay in some reserves.

We encountered the first one a little way away from the main feeding platform. He legged it up the nearest tree, fruit clutched in every available body part.




At the main feeding platform, we met six of matriarch Seduku's family, and watched them -- swinging, climbing, feeding, playing -- for a full hour. In the background, birds called, and cicadas zinged, and time just melted away.





One of the bigger guys did an impressive job on a coconut. You definitely wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of those teeth... Obviously finding it still a little recalcitrant, however, he bashed it a few times against the tree he was climbing. Someone came to "help". A little fracas ensued. But peace was restored fairly quickly.

Some made off into the tops of the trees, where they were often detectable only by the occasional wave of a big leathery paw, and the rustling of branches.




But others would keep on the move, hanging around in that impossible way they have.







I defy anyone to not find these guys just adorably fluffy...





Once the apes have finished, the giant squirrels move in to very efficiently tidy up:


We had this experience all to ourselves this morning. Very good for us, but not so good for the park, of course. They'll be glad when there's more foot traffic through here again.



We headed for Padawan after this. I wouldn't especially recommend the walk, which is along a busy road. But it doesn't take long, and there are one or two interesting things to see en route.




Padawan was where we spent a very enjoyable morning with the pitcher plants last year. We went back to the same eatery (Pearl's Park Food Centre), and I even ordered the same dish (fish ball and tofu soup). After a quick walk round (noting the signs advertising vacancies for bird's nest feather removers...), we Grabbed home.

Fabulous day. We feel awed, humbled, and so grateful...