Sweet Mabel is continuing to thrive as she gains in weight. She also seems to have gained strength and energy. These days Mabel can be seen enthusiastically climbing in the trees during her daily forest release time. Mabel’s hair has continued to grow and is even thicker and lusher than before. She seems to attract admirers, both human and orangutan, for her luscious hair that glistens in the rays of the sun. There is no doubt that Mabel is becoming a very beautiful orangutan. Having gained more strength means Mabel is gaining confidence in the forest. No longer as shy as she used to be, Mabel is branching out and starting to climb much more independently. It is a joy to see Mabel climbing now, as she seems to enjoy the challenge.
The caregivers’ favorite part of Mabel’s day is when she makes a nest in the trees. Nest making is an important skill that all orangutans need to learn before they go back to the wild and Mabel loves practicing her nest building techniques. Mabel will carefully weave branches together, selecting the strongest ones, to build her nest. There is an art to making a good nest and Mabel seems to be mastering the skill. Once her nest is completed, Mabel lays back and relaxes as the clouds sail overhead across the blue sky.
Mabel has always been a sweet natured orangutan and is always gentle with her caregivers and orangutan peers. She very much enjoys playing with her friends in the forest, although she doesn’t like to play rough. Mabel and best friend Hoffman now look so similar that they are often mistaken for each other in the forest. The best friends both have thick and lush orange hair that frames their sweet faces, making them look like twins. However, Mabel still needs the reassurance of her caregivers. She can often be found returning to her caregivers for a cuddle midway through playtime. This is often a strategic move on Mabel’s part as she knows that her caregivers are often hiding treats in their pockets. She loves it when a sweet and juicy passionfruit is slipped to her for a snack.
Mabel has come a long way in the last six months and we cannot wait to see what she achieves in the near future!