BUNGAN ADAPTS WELL TO LIFE IN THE KEHJE SEWEN FOREST

Our PRM team in Nles Mamse camp recently conducted a nest-to-nest observation on Bungan. Nest-to-nest observation involves the team following an orangutan from the moment they wake up in their nest, until they build a new nest later that day. It didn’t take long for our team to see that Bungan has indeed adapted well to life in the Kehje Sewen Forest.

The weather was quite unpredictable that day and the midday heat was intense. When the heat got the better of Bungan, the team saw her dangle from a tree on the riverbank and dip her hands in the water to splash her hot face.

She then went back to exploring the Kehje Sewen Forest and foraged for natural food.

After finishing her meal, Bungan rested for a moment and then surprised the team when she broke off a small twig and used it to pick her nose! She snapped off another twig to clean her ears.

Orangutans are intelligent creatures and will use sticks and other forest ‘tools’ for various purposes; for building nests and digging out termites – and for personal hygiene, it would seem!

To see Bungan using twigs for self-grooming truly amazed us. It is wonderful to see how easily she has adapted to her new surroundings.

We are excited to see Bungan, who was released in December 2015, living a healthy and peaceful life in the natural surrounds of the Kehje Sewen Forest.