Amelia remains a sensible orangutan. She is not a risk taker. Amelia wears her emotions on her sleeve. You can always tell how Amelia feels. If she is unhappy with something, goosebumps appear on her body. Actually, this is often normal when orangutans are in uncomfortable situations. Things have to be just right for Amelia otherwise she won’t take action, but contemplate instead.
Amelia shares her sleeping enclosure with orangutan peers Holland and Doris but enjoys her alone time during forest school. She spends most of her time in the Camp Danielle playgrounds swinging between the ropes and the wooden rafters. Amelia only occasionally comes down to terra-firma. Recently when she came down to the ground some of the younger orangutans “ambushed” and surrounded her in a friendly way, attempting to engage in play. Amelia wasted no time in showing them who was in charge. The infant orangutans learned quickly not to mess with Amelia and give her the space she wants. She does not like to be disturbed. Interestingly, Sumatran orangutans have been documented to be more gregarious and more social than Bornean orangutans. Amelia is definitely a Bornean orangutan in situations where she wants to be alone!
Orangutans are also known to engage in some deceptive behaviours such as “playing nice” to grab something. Amelia has cultivated this characteristic too. Her caregivers may lose their hats if they aren’t careful around her. Amelia will only listen and come back for her favourite person and surrogate Mum, Ibu Epok. Amelia climbs up into Ibu Epok’s lap and snuggles in. Ibu Epok has been blind since childhood, is very calm, and doesn’t chase her orangutan charges very much. Perhaps this is why Amelia prefers her above all other caregivers.
Amelia is growing apace and has a good appetite. She walks along the boardwalk near the playground and steps off to climb into a nearby tree to sit and observe her playmates. Soon Amelia climbs down and samples some nearby flora such as leaves, young stems, and even a bit of soil. During forest school caregivers provide Amelia with a bunch of rambutan fruit. She clutches the bunch in one hand as she sits in the long grass and has a mini feast to herself. She rolls rambutan seeds around her mouth and her large doe eyes scan the horizon. She absorbs everything and no doubt remembers it all. We hope to see her apply the knowledge she gains from her observations and interactions in the months to come. We will continue to offer Amelia the support she needs to build her strength, confidence and growth so that eventually she will be prepared to go back to the wild.
Click here to download Amelia’s August 2023 Foster Update
