Baby Orangutan Starts School And The Internet Goes Wild

The first day of school is an emotional day for parents. For the keepers at the Orangutan Rehabilitation School in Indonesian Borneo, it is no different. Except of course that these baby charges are also orange and hairy. At the International Animal Rescue Orangutan Centre in Ketapang, little Didik, who is 18 months old, has just recovered from surgery removing a bullet from his shoulder. In the report, from Caters news agency, he is seen catching the ‘school-wheelbarrow’ with the other babies excited to start their day of playing and climbing at school. A spokesperson from the centre says;

“Baby school is one of the first stages of rehabilitation for rescued baby orangutans. We currently have about 50 baby orangutans in baby and pre-school. They start like Didik under the watchful eye of their babysitters. Some are very clingy at first as in the wild they would be clinging to their mothers. Gradually they grow in independence, copying and learning from each other and with gentle encouragement from the babysitters who themselves have had training in tree climbing."

Subjects in this school include nest building, hunting and tree swinging. Once the little guys have passed forest school they get placed on an artificially created pre-release island. In Didik's case, it will be several years before he reaches that stage. He will be assessed by the babysitters and once they seem confident, independent and skilful enough they will move on to their next adventure. One worker added;

“It is particularly heart-warming to see these young apes learning to play and have fun after suffering so much trauma and sadness so early in their young lives.”

I don't know about you but we are off to adopt a wheel-barrowful of these little cuties!