Kobe remains the outgoing and free-spirited orangutan that she has always been! Kobe’s long hair swooshes from her arms as she looks around the forest seemingly finding wonderment and serenity. She looks around as though she owns the place.

Her friends seem to know that if they stick close to Kobe, they will benefit from her knowledge and the spoils that come from that knowledge. Judy and Bimbing join Kobe in a fruiting tree to share in her bounty. Kobe is a lover not a fighter, so she is happy to share as there is enough fruit to go around. Her friend Karti enjoys following Kobe as Kobe explores the immediate area looking for more fruiting trees, climbing up 20 metres into the canopy. The two recently spent a girl’s night out in the forest together. The girls slept near the jambutan (Indonesian for bridge) used by her caregivers to get from one end of the Learning Forest to the other. Kobe is an expert nest maker and once she had constructed her bed for the night, she stretched herself out in a starfish shape to have a pleasant night’s sleep. Kobe and Karti parted ways the next morning but Kobe still wasn’t in the mood to return home. Once she wakes up, Kobe barely stops moving, sitting on a branch for mere moments before moving onwards. You have to be ready to keep up with her. Her mind is focused on one thing and there is no point in trying to persuade her otherwise. She travelled to one of the nearby orangutan camps and explored the area in search of ant nests. Kobe follows her well-honed natural instincts. She finds a lot of ants on dead tree branches and also sucks them up off tree trunks.

Her eyes reflect her desires; she is hungry for the forest. Thanks to her generous foster parents and her dedicated caregivers on the ground in Borneo, we will ensure she will continue to have all the opportunities and freedom that she deserves.

Click here to download Kobe’s August 2023 Foster Update