The last six months have flown by, especially for Kobe who flies through the forest with reckless abandon. Kobe loves the forest; there is no question about it. She stalks around the Learning Forest stroking the blades of grass and sniffing the flowers. Kobe looks up at her caregivers as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. She is always up to something.

Upon arriving in the Learning Forest Kobe heads straight for the nearest tree and begins swinging from vine to vine. The only time she makes a pit stop is if there are swampy pools – “forest jacuzzis” if you will – so she can take a bath. These puddles won’t splash themselves after all.

Kobe is a lone wolf but if she comes across her enclosure mates Kobe will stop and catch up before restarting her travels. Kobe often encounters her friends Judy and Pipit on her travels. Kobe sees what they’re up to before moving on, but a moment later returns just to see if anything has changed in the meantime. Kobe is easily distracted and always wants everything, everywhere, all at once. Kobe likes to find the tallest tree and see what the top looks like. She is compelled to keep moving. The branches seem to swing to her command. Kobe has been spotted by caregivers on several occasions making nests up in the canopy. She pulls and breaks branches towards herself and makes a nice seat. She never seems satisfied with it, constantly rearranging the leaves and bedding within the nest. Orangutans bend and break thick branches in order to construct their nests. After this basic foundation, orangutans mash together smaller branches to make a “mattress”. At the moment Kobe makes a simple “no frills” nest but as she makes more and more, we expect her nests to graduate to five-star deluxe models.

Kobe has lost none of her childlike wonder at the world, and we suspect she never will. Kobe has a spark and a spirit that is a joy to behold. She has come so far, but there is still some way to go. We look forward to what Kobe has next in store for us.

Click here to download Kobe’s February 2023 Foster Update