We are blessed to have Carmen grace us with her thoughtful presence and gentle nature. With her lengthy, flowing hair framing her face, she truly does look picture-perfect every morning. Carmen continues slowly but surely through her development towards adulthood. Her daily forest releases bring her nothing but joy. She shows off her incredible climbing skills but always stays reassuringly close to staff. There has been a change in her living arrangements. She has moved to a new sleeping enclosure but stayed within the familiar comforts of Pondok Dua. Her friends Maue-Kay, Mel and Summer are also along for the ride.

When out at Forest School, Carmen often goes back and forth between the forest and her caregivers, creating a calming presence wherever she goes. A true gentle soul, she’s never been mischievous or belligerent with her orangutan pals or staff. Her favourite enrichment remains wooden logs and refreshing ice cubes. She’s also a connoisseur of fine dining, choosing the best of fruits for her meals. Papaya, however, remains firmly on her “dislike” list.

Carmen has a special soft spot for male caregivers, especially Mr. Rojan, whom she loves to follow into the forest. Beyond her daily routines, Carmen truly stands out. We’ve noticed her contemplative nature, especially when she’s unwrapping an enrichment parcel. She approaches it with such patience, using her teeth and hands to carefully loosen the entwined vines. She appears deep in thought, and her patience truly pays off when she uncovers the treats inside. She also finds time to practice nest making, with a knack for pulling down tree branches and arranging the leaves into a perfect, nest-like pile. Once the pile is done Carmen will look at her caregivers as if she has something profound to share. However, her composed manner goes out the window when she joins her friend Maue-Kay playing in the water. They often splash enthusiastically as they bathe together. It’s quite a sight!

We look forward to seeing what else Carmen has to share with us over the next six months.

Click here to download Carmen’s August 2025 Foster Update