Orangutans are gentle giants that live amongst the canopies of the Indonesian Borneo forests. They are quite similar to us— they communicate with each other, use herbal remedies to heal their wounds, practice hygiene, and have vigorous sweet tooths. The noun orang-utan is Indonesian for “people of the jungle.” It’s no surprise that we share 97 percent of our DNA with orangutans.
Since the mid-twentieth century, their population has been dwindling at alarming rates. Poaching, logging, and mining within their habitats have displaced thousands, posing extreme threats to survival. Some scientists estimate that the beloved primates could be gone within ten years if the vicious acts carried out by humans don’t come to a halt.
The Bornean forest is home to many creatures, from the tiniest of squirrels to the mightiest of elephants. The humid tropical climate supports the growth of fruits such as guava, plantain, and durian, all of which are adored by orangutans. Primates play a crucial role in their ecosystem by dispersing seeds, helping to maintain the health of their forest habitat.
Orangutans are categorized as a K-selected species, meaning that mothers and their babies develop intense bonds between each other. For the first four months of an infant’s life, they are attached to their mother’s fur at all times.
Orangutan mothers house themselves in treetops; they build a nest for themselves and their children every night. An average female orangutan builds 14,600 nests in her lifetime.
They continue to live with their mothers until they are about six to eight years old. From then on, the now-grown orangutans will visit their mothers from time to time.
Just like us, young primates have a critical dependency on their mother. She is to teach her child critical survival skills such as climbing, foraging, and nest-building. Separation of the two caused by human meddling terribly reduces the chances of the baby’s survival.
This is where Dr. Jamartin Sihte’s institution, the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF), steps in. The group has overseen many charitable acts in the name of protecting orangutans, but one of their most impactful initiatives has been the Orangutan Jungle School.
This school is unusual; it doesn’t have classrooms and doesn’t focus on traditional subjects like English or arithmetic. Instead, it teaches orphaned orangutans essential survival lessons they would normally learn from their mothers.
The school contains multiple levels or “grades.” The curriculum is designed to mimic natural behaviors, promoting foraging, climbing, and environmental awareness. Through these experiences, the orangutans gain the confidence and skills necessary to thrive in their natural habitat.
The “snake lesson” has garnered significant attention among social media users. During this instructive session, caretakers reveal a plastic snake and run away in fear, anticipating that the orangutans will mimic their reaction. Orangutan’s fear of predators is crucial to their survival, just like it is to ours.
Each and every orangutan student must work their way up in hopes of achieving what they consider “graduation,” a term that signifies their eventual release into the wild. Challenges and hardship for these children are inescapable, but the teachers’ devotion paired with the students’ determination makes for nothing but success.
By supporting initiatives and raising awareness about the threats that primates face, we can help ensure that future generations of orangutans, and the lush ecosystems they inhabit, continue to thrive. The survival of these incredible animals is not just a matter of conservation; it is a testament to our shared responsibility to protect the planet and its diverse inhabitants.