There were other people milling around the reserve as my friend and I wandered down some trails and tried to explore the reserve a little. It turned out a little was right. There are not many places you can explore in this nature reserve. It is a wild jungle where Orangutans live. They have been rescued from other areas when they were found sick or in need of help. Only small areas are open to people, the rest is maintained as the wild, natural jungle they live in. Then, I saw him across the way, my friend Al from Texas, way over here in Malaysia!

Just a 45 minute ride out of Kuching on the local bus landed us in the Semenggoh Wildlife Reserve . Since it's beginning in 1975, the Center has cared for almost 1,000 endangered mammals, birds and reptiles. 
 
While visiting the Semenggoh a person has a chance to see semi-wild orang utan infants up to large mature adults and adolescent age ones. They live, not in cages, but in their natural jungle habitat.
 
Orang utans live in the rainforests of Malaysia, Borneo. It is one of the worlds largest primates and lives almost entirely in the trees. 

An adult male can grow to 5 feet tall and weigh up to 220 pounds with an arm reach of 8 feet. Covered with reddish hair the Orang Utans can live to be over 50 years old.

The female only gives birth to one infant once every 7-8 years.

Each night each orang utan builds a new nest 40-60 feet high up in the forest trees.

They eat mostly fruit but also young leaves, insects, bark, flowers, eggs and small lizards . They are for the most part, loners. Mainly because of the scarcity of food and also because since they have no predators they don't need the protection of a group.

'Orang' is Malay for 'person' and 'utan' comes from 'hutan', meaning 'forest'. So Orang Utan means 'person of the forest'.
 
The orangutans (spelled Orang Utan here) were either injured, orphaned or kept as illegal pets before being brought to this reserve. There are 27 Orang Utans here now, the park official says.

The orang utans are an endangered species and protected by the law in Malaysia. The animals remain in the reserve until they are able to be released back into the jungle. While here they live in the jungle and gather their own food. They are not tame but, to some extent, are use to humans. 

We are cautioned to be quiet at all times, though, because the sound of our voices will frighten them away. They live in the jungle but twice a day bananas and fruit are put out on a few feeding platforms . The park officials give out a call to the jungle. Sometimes some of them will come to eat, but not every time. So, we are not promised to see an orangutan today, but there is the chance we will.

While waiting for the feeding time in the afternoon I spot, across the park, my friend and ex-co-worker, Al. It's a shock to see him way over here in Borneo. I head closer to get a better look. It's not him at all, but is dressed in the same type of unique hat and flashy shirt as Al wears. Maybe it is a close relative?

Feeding time comes and we hike back into the jungle along a trail. Quiet at all times, no food or water are allowed and watch your bags and other belongings. They have been known to attack and take things from visitors. No tripods for the cameras are allowed because the Orangutans think they are guns or blow-guns.

The ranger places piles of fruit on a platform away from where we wait and calls to the jungle . Shortly an orangutan comes through the trees, then swings on some ropes to the platform and gorges on the fruit. Then one more showed up. One of them was young and was never still a minute. Always swinging on something while eathing. The other one must have been older. It just sat on the platform and ate.

After getting their fill of the fruit the orangutans headed back into the jungle. We hiked to another spot where another feeding took place and this time one very large orangutan came to eat.

It was a mixed day, good and not so good. I got to see 3 oranguans in the wild, which many people do not get to see, but I did not see my friend Al.

Next: Not Everyone in Borneo is honest, "The Thief!"