Tommy remains a feisty individual full of vim and vigour. Alongside his friends Ponti, Hayes, and Jankis he feels invincible. Tommy eschews the ground that we humans must tread on, preferring the dizzy heights of the canopy, especially when travelling with his best friend Valentino. Orangutans feed, sleep and essentially live in the canopies of the trees so this is a win for everyone, especially Ibu Febby, his primary caregiver. She watches him like his proud parent.

Tommy looks right at home as he snaps branches and twigs to make a quick day nest so he can relax from the heat of mid-day. Tommy’s sleek streamlined look is profiled by the shadows of the trees. This only leads to beautify his profile contrasted against the sun. There is no doubt that Tommy is a handsome orangutan. However, Tommy doesn’t bother posing for the camera. It holds no interest to him; only the forest and its delights concern him. Tommy’s tracking skills are well honed and he is able to find anything he sets his mind on. He doesn’t hurry. He takes time to soak up the forest atmosphere.

Beneath his vivacity is a tender soul. Tommy doesn’t like to be a bother to his fellow orangutans or his caregivers. Although when food is involved, he can be quite demanding. Like the growing adolescent he is, Tommy always has food on his mind. Be it banana, pineapple, sweet potato, papaya or corn, Tommy will have it. He observes the caregivers at camp preparing the food and claps his hands. He likes to make sure they know he is there, especially when it’s feeding time. Tommy probably wouldn’t be a restaurant’s favourite customer especially at “an eat-all-you-can buffet” but out in the Bornean rainforest his antics only serve to endear him to us all. The future is bright, the future is Tommy’s.

Click here to download Tommy’s August 2021 Foster Update