Holland continues to grow and mature every day. She never fails to take full advantage of her time in Forest School. Holland is carried from her sleeping enclosure along with her playmates Benjamine, Amelia and Doris. As soon as Holland is brought to the playground, she heads directly into the forest. She hardly spends anytime in the playground these days. She may start there by swinging on some ropes or slurping some rainwater that has collected in a tyre but doesn’t stay long. Milk is another treat for which she may actually hang around for. It is here that we can appreciate how big Holland is getting! Her face is filling out and her arms stretch out with an incredible reach.

Not before long, Hollands makes for the forest. It’s where she is at her happiest. For Holland home is where the trees are. Benjamine follows close behind. Holland is laidback and happy to have her along for the ride. The two play closely together, seemingly dancing through the trees.

Holland is an expert at gliding from one tree to another. She brachiates with unmatched skill. Holland temporarily stops to eat some wild fruit and leaves on offer in the forest. She snaps branches off with ease and waves them around triumphantly. Holland climbs high into the trees, anywhere from eight to fifteen metres easily. This is a comfortable height for Holland to make a nest if she so wishes. Orangutans can make nests in trees as high as they want. We can’t wait to see how high Holland will go.

Holland is sometimes so absorbed in her activities she doesn’t even notice if she circles back next to her sleeping enclosure. If Holland comes down to the ground she moves quickly rolling and cartwheeling vigorously. The forest inevitably swallows her up once more.

This combination of foraging, climbing and nesting shows how highly skilled Holland already is. She will continue to grow and mature and things will only get better (and higher) from here! Thank you for caring about Holland. Without you, she could not have come this far.

Click here to download Holland’s August 2022 Foster Update