These magnificant "men of the forest' are funny, charming, playfull and sadly, disappearing. At Semenggoh and Sepilok the fight goes on to protect these magnificant apes

Orang utans, Malaysian Borneo’s rare apes, top the list of must see sights. There’s a bond with these human-like creatures that not only share 95.4% of our genes, but look like us or at least like someone we know.

Orang utan is Malay for ‘man of the forest’. Part of the ape family orang utans, with gorillas and chimpanzees, are the most intelligent animals on the planet after humans.

Seeing orang utans for the first time is a special experience. Visitors are enthralled to watch mothers protectively clasp their offspring, and the tousled haired and cheeky faced babies are irresistibly cute.

Orang Utan Quick Facts

• Found only on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo they can no longer survive without human intervention. Every year there are less orang utans, victims of a disappearing forest habitat, hunting and the pet trade.
• They are the world’s heaviest tree dwellers; males, twice the size of the females, weigh about 75kgs, stand 1.5m tall and have an arm span of 1.5m to 2.5m.
• Orang utans are totally protected; it is illegal to hunt, kill, sell or keep orang utans as pets.

They can be viewed at both the southern state of Sarawak and the northern state of Sabah in Borneo. While there are no barriers between you and them, touching these receptive animals is forbidden as orang utans catch most of the diseases that affect humans – and vice versa.

Semenggoh Nature Reserve Sarawak

Semenggoh is 20km south of Kuching, the capital of Sarawak. Established in 1975 it covers 653 hectares of tropical evergreen forest.

The semi wild adults are more likely to come between March and September when there is a scarcity of wild foods in the forest. However, there is no guarantee they will come at all.

When they do the young especially, love to show off while adults laze in a tree boughs or walk nonchalantly by like film stars accustomed to adoring fans and photo sessions.

Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre Sabah

Sepilok , the world’s largest orang utan sanctuary, is a sophisticated tourist park with reception area, cafeteria, signed trails, and guides. Here orang utan sightings are virtually guaranteed.

A forest reserve of about 43 sq km, Sepilok was established to train orphaned orang-utans or those in captivity as pets to return to the forest. In the wild the young stay with their mother for up to six years.

Instead a buddy system is used to pass on survival skills by pairing younger apes with elders.

Increasingly Orang utans seek refuge at Sepilok as habitat is threatened by logging activities or cleared for agriculture.

Orang utans are fed twice daily and after eating the curious apes wander among the visitors, casually brushing past them to climb a tree, or startling them when they turn around to find an orang utan at their heels.

Smiles spread from ear to ear watching youngsters perform like trapeze artists while babies cling to mother’s chest contently chewing on sugar cane.

Visitors are so entertained they linger at closing time, like customers in a bar finishing a last drink, and like the publican wardens have to remind them it’s time to go.

FACT FILE

• Best time to visit is during the dry season from April to September.
• Malaria Protection is essential. Other inoculations are advisable
• Borneo is packed with wildlife, see here for more details.