The last six months have provided Carmen a routine as she enjoys daily forest school releases and ample time to develop her skills and “opinions”. Carmen has never been the most expressive orangutan. Her fringe hangs over her face, and a permanent pout seems fixed to her mouth. At the start of her daily releases to the forest, Carmen appears awkward and unsure of herself as she slowly works her way along the ground to the playground and beyond to the forest. We have learned not to judge Carmen by her initial tentativeness. Once she enters the forest, the trees fill her with strength and energy. Her whole manner changes as she forgets any concerns, and an electric charge ignites within her.

Carmen glides through the trees with the grace and confidence of an Olympic athlete at the top of her game. She spins and hangs and jumps her way around the trees, which become her props. Her long, thick hair swings freely as she moves through the trees.  It’s always a pleasure to watch her in full motion, like a stream of water flowing through the canopy. For Carmen, the forest completes her and everything makes sense.

Carmen is smart and vigilant. She knows when to stay close to her caregivers so she will be the first to receive goodies or treats. Anything containing peanuts is always a surefire hit with her, as long as there is no papaya, which she loathes! If papaya is on offer, Carmen chooses to find her own treats from the forest including young leaves and any fruits in season. Carmen doesn’t mind her own company and will leave her friends Dodot and Summer behind to carve out her own path. We are keen to see her continue to develop her skills further, especially her nest making, but Carmen is not to be underestimated. With the right encouragement, we are sure she will go far and can hardly wait to see what happens next.

Click here to download Carmen’s February 2025 Foster Update