Day 234 (Mon 26 Feb) - Sepilok (Sabah, Borneo)
Up early to have breakfast and go to the sanctuary.
As we neared the sanctuary we were a trifle dismayed to see loads of coaches pass us. Looks like it will be a very busy morning indeed.
Got our tickets and walked along the very slippery wooden walkway to the viewing platform.
Whilst we waited we watched the macaques in the tree tops. There was a fairly sizeable crowd on the platform but as we'd got there nice and early we were well positioned by the railings at the front of the platform.
Soon the thick rope that connected two massive trees began to sway and soon a few juvenile orangs appeared ( [1], [2], [3] ). They seemed to be quite curious at us as they hang from the ropes, looking a bit like a hairy sack hung up to dry; they clung to the rope with all four limbs. The macaques obviously knew that feeding time was near as they hopped down from the trees and neared the feeding platform; one brazenly walked along the handrails that we were standing by. We moved a couple of feet back to let the big macaque go past as they have a nasty habit of snatching anything that looks like they may be able to eat. Neither of us wanted to be scratched or bitten by him!
After a while the warden put out some bananas for them that they demolished ( [1], [2] ). As they ate the macaques would make lightning raids on any banana that had been left unattended for more than a second. The orangs didn't seem to mind.
After feeding the orangs slowly moved back into the surrounding forest.
About 11ish we headed off to the cafe for a bite to eat and then watched a short video about the sanctuary. Walked round the informative information centre then headed back early to the viewing platform for the afternoon feeding session.
There were only a handful of tourists waiting quitely for the orangs to appear. Unfortunately the tranquility of standing listening to the sounds of the forest was lost when a Malay couple and an elder woman appeared together with a gaggle of older English tourists. We have never quite worked out why people standing no more than two feet from each other have to literally shout to each other to make themselves heard. Sarb thought that this was a particularly English abroad phenomenan but the Malays were giving them a run for their money. Idiots!
Soon the orangs started to appear. We knew this as the decibel level went up as our friends decided to shout to each other that an orang was appearing. Said friend clearly needed to demonstrate that he understood this message by shouting back to shouter number 1 that yes indeed he could see an orang. Sarb felt that it would be more interesting sitting on the side of the orangs and watching these pillocks.
Anyway the orangs soon started to appear including a huge male ( [1], [2] ). We knew they were big but were quite taken aback as to how big! Awesome.
After feeding we walked back along the wooden walkway only to stop as we spotted the huge male had decided to use the walkway as well. Luckily he was going in the same direction as us and was about 30 yards away. Lucky as were not sure as to the etiquette to employ when passing a whacking great ape on a shared walkway. Do you say 'morning.', 'dry again isn't it' or just keep your eyes glued to the floor and pretend that the rusty orange 200 pound ape walking past you isn't there (a bit like walking into a nightclub in Britain)?
The male soon tired of using the walkway and muscled over the handrails and into the surrounding forest.
We were both smiling and were quite awestruck at the size and gentle nature of these great apes. Beautiful creatures.
As we neared the sanctuary we were a trifle dismayed to see loads of coaches pass us. Looks like it will be a very busy morning indeed.
Got our tickets and walked along the very slippery wooden walkway to the viewing platform.
Whilst we waited we watched the macaques in the tree tops. There was a fairly sizeable crowd on the platform but as we'd got there nice and early we were well positioned by the railings at the front of the platform.
Soon the thick rope that connected two massive trees began to sway and soon a few juvenile orangs appeared ( [1], [2], [3] ). They seemed to be quite curious at us as they hang from the ropes, looking a bit like a hairy sack hung up to dry; they clung to the rope with all four limbs. The macaques obviously knew that feeding time was near as they hopped down from the trees and neared the feeding platform; one brazenly walked along the handrails that we were standing by. We moved a couple of feet back to let the big macaque go past as they have a nasty habit of snatching anything that looks like they may be able to eat. Neither of us wanted to be scratched or bitten by him!
After a while the warden put out some bananas for them that they demolished ( [1], [2] ). As they ate the macaques would make lightning raids on any banana that had been left unattended for more than a second. The orangs didn't seem to mind.
After feeding the orangs slowly moved back into the surrounding forest.
About 11ish we headed off to the cafe for a bite to eat and then watched a short video about the sanctuary. Walked round the informative information centre then headed back early to the viewing platform for the afternoon feeding session.
There were only a handful of tourists waiting quitely for the orangs to appear. Unfortunately the tranquility of standing listening to the sounds of the forest was lost when a Malay couple and an elder woman appeared together with a gaggle of older English tourists. We have never quite worked out why people standing no more than two feet from each other have to literally shout to each other to make themselves heard. Sarb thought that this was a particularly English abroad phenomenan but the Malays were giving them a run for their money. Idiots!
Soon the orangs started to appear. We knew this as the decibel level went up as our friends decided to shout to each other that an orang was appearing. Said friend clearly needed to demonstrate that he understood this message by shouting back to shouter number 1 that yes indeed he could see an orang. Sarb felt that it would be more interesting sitting on the side of the orangs and watching these pillocks.
Anyway the orangs soon started to appear including a huge male ( [1], [2] ). We knew they were big but were quite taken aback as to how big! Awesome.
After feeding we walked back along the wooden walkway only to stop as we spotted the huge male had decided to use the walkway as well. Luckily he was going in the same direction as us and was about 30 yards away. Lucky as were not sure as to the etiquette to employ when passing a whacking great ape on a shared walkway. Do you say 'morning.', 'dry again isn't it' or just keep your eyes glued to the floor and pretend that the rusty orange 200 pound ape walking past you isn't there (a bit like walking into a nightclub in Britain)?
The male soon tired of using the walkway and muscled over the handrails and into the surrounding forest.
We were both smiling and were quite awestruck at the size and gentle nature of these great apes. Beautiful creatures.
posted by Jo and Sarb at
2/26/2007 12:46:00 am
1 Comments:
the sanctary seems to attract plonkers - we had one too but it's still a wonderful experience seeing these amazing animals, I don't know why but they always seem so sad to me but many of them have had awful experiences so perhaps they are. In years to come you'll remember the experience and forget the crowds
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