Charlie … formidable and active.

These days when we see Charlie, we can’t help but conjure up an image of King Kong atop the Empire State building. He is a big boy now compared to his peers. Charlie is a formidable sight when he shakes his sleeping enclosure to show his eagerness to emerge out into the forest. Upon leaving his sleeping enclosure Charlie props himself up on all fours and truly shows off his physique. Charlie inspires awe as his head appears, encompassed by huge hairy shoulders and seemingly a never-ending arm span.

Once in the forest Charlie seems absent-minded, but that’s only because there’s so much to see, hear, and take in. He hangs between branches, gazing back and forth. Charlie always follows noises in the forest, always dazzled by the world around him. In the shade of the canopy, light pierces through leaves onto his face, illuminating his soulful, deep brown eyes. He keeps mostly to himself, content in his own presence. This is normal for male orangutans as they get older. However, he has an eye for the ladies and is sure to be a dominant male as he matures and grows. There is also one other thing never far from Charlie’s mind… food!

Most orangutans are great with tools – some more idiosyncratic in their use than others – and Charlie finds ways of utilising everyday forest objects. Where others see nothing, Charlie sees opportunity. A look of intense concentration takes hold of Charlie’s face. He grabs a fallen branch from the forest floor and begins using it to poke into any crevice he can find, whether in the trees or on the ground. More often than not, his activity produces little, but Charlie is patient and continues insect foraging until he strikes the motherload. Ants are dislodged from a tree hole. Charlie doesn’t miss a beat. He uses his dexterous digits to catch the ants as they scurry away on his arms. He proceeds to enjoy his meal with relish. There’s never a dull moment with Charlie, that’s for sure.

Click here to download Charlie’s August 2021 Foster Update