The last six months have flown by. How about this to chew over? Orangutans have a total of 32 teeth, just like humans do. However, unlike humans, their bite force is almost four times as strong and they have sharper canines adapted for foraging. Why are we telling you this? Carmen may display her teeth when she yawns lazily but when required they are one of her strongest assets, as she continues to delight us with her antics.

Hanging from the Pondok Dua playground roof, Carmen won’t do something for nothing. She will deign to come down only if her caregivers present her with some enrichment worth the energy. Puzzle enrichment is mentally stimulating for all of us, and Carmen will extricate herself for a rattan ball or puzzle feeder. Taking the rattan ball for herself is not without its challenges. Carmen must defend her prize from would-be thieves. Other orangutans crowd around Carmen wanting to get in on the action but Carmen nips at them and changes the enrichment from one hand to another. Eventually she climbs to a safe area where she can enjoy it uninterrupted. Using her canines, and her strong bite, she tears a hole into the rattan ball. She pokes her finger around inside and purses her lips. If pouting was an Olympic sport, Carmen would be a strong contender for gold. Her work finally pays off and gradually Carmen scoops the nuts out from within.

Her dark eyes twinkle in the afternoon sun as she munches on her reward. Soon enough something in the forest catches her eye and she moves to investigate. Her long hair glides through the air at one with the world around her. Nothing comes close to the natural enrichment that the forest can provide.

Whenever she is out in the forest Carmen tries her best to extend her time out as long as possible. Her caregivers must patiently wait until she is ready to come down. The forest canopy can keep her occupied indefinitely and we’re okay with that! She’s growing fast and doing well!

Click here to download Carmen’s August 2022 Foster Update