GRETA'S GREAT FOREST SCHOOL ESCAPE

Every kid gets bored at school now and then, dreaming of escape but rarely daring to try. However, there's always that one brave soul who takes the plunge. Such was the case at the Nyaru Menteng Forest School one sunny morning.

Around 11 AM, when all the young orangutans were supposed to be immersed in their Forest School activities, a tiny figure darted through the entrance gate and headed towards the playground. She was small and agile, clearly from Group 3. Can you guess who she was? It was Greta!

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Greta looked around, clearly both confused and excited, as she assessed her surroundings. Spotting no one around, she made her way to the nearby socialisation complex, which houses the larger male orangutans. Something had caught her eye: an enrichment item made from a woven sack filled with small fruit pieces, which the male orangutans were eagerly playing with.

Luck was on Greta's side that day. One of the enrichment items had fallen and, without hesitation, she grabbed it and began to play. Unfortunately for Greta, her fun was short-lived. Ibu Sri, one of the dedicated surrogate mothers, soon arrived to bring her back.

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Ibu Sri revealed that Greta hadn't escaped alone; she was accompanied by Bumi, a seasoned adventurer. However, Bumi, being more experienced, swiftly returned to Forest School upon spotting the approaching caregiver. Greta, a novice in the art of escaping, ended up at the playground, the only route she knew well.

That day, instead of being sent back to Forest School, Greta was taken directly to the sleeping complex. Poor Greta! But this experience served as a valuable lesson: skipping school meant spending the rest of the day confined to the sleeping complex.

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Forest Schools like the one at Nyaru Menteng are essential for rehabilitating young orangutans, equipping them with the crucial skills they need to survive in the wild. Greta's little adventure, though amusing, underscores the importance of the structured environment provided by Forest School, where these remarkable creatures can learn and thrive.

Join us in supporting these incredible animals on their journey back to the wild by participating in our new campaign to build an improved Forest School with an even better wild ‘classroom’!