Orangutans at Camp Leakey

So... I think this is my last orangutan post, so you all that are sick of the hairy orange guys can breathe easy, whereas you all that are loving the fuzzy gingers will have to reminisce and get your fix by reviewing all of my previous orangutan posts (here, here, here, and here.).  

You could also get your fix by checking out some recent Borneo orangutan documentaries...  Born to be Wild (featuring our favorite, Siswi) was filmed in Tanjung Harapan and Camp Leakey, but I also liked the more in-depth look in the BBC documentary series, Orangutan Diary, which follows the rescue and rehabilitation efforts of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation.

Our final orangutan viewing stop on the river was Camp Leakey, the base camp where all of the orangutan saving happens.  Founded in 1971 by Dr. Birute Galdikas, Camp Leakey is the starting point for all of the work of Orangutan Foundation International, including protection of orangutans and their forest habitat, rehabilitation, research, and education, among other things.

When we arrived the first time to Camp Leakey (we went back a few times), we were greeted by this fellow next to the dock named Chris:

The Camp Leakey feeding station was always busy, with both rehabilitated and wild orangutans coming and going:

Remember when I told you that the orangutans had many different drinking methodologies?  Here's the final (and funniest, I think) methodology, the scoop and pour:

Even the kids are doing it:

This one clearly took a giant swig of milk and then went to hang out in the trees, mouth full:

Camp Leakey seemed to be the gathering point for orangutan moms and their babies.  This mom, in particular, was funny, as rather than take the tree route to the feeding platform, she decided to walk straight through the crowd of humans with cameras:

On her way back down from the platform (mouth full of milk), she walked back through the crowd, raising her arms above her head, perhaps to look more intimidating?  Or maybe for balance? 

Ug, the babies were so cute:

I love how the babies just climb all over the moms like they are a jungle gym, and, in turn, the moms never let the babies too far out of reach:

This baby looks like an old man:

And this one was a total ham, just hanging out on his mom's shoulders:

Ah, orangutan babies.  Staaaaahp.