Fruiting season, not haze, keeps Sepilok orang utan away

Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre has seen fewer orangutans at its feeding platform, despite the haze affecting the region. The New Straits Times confirmed that the center's operations continued as usual, with no direct impact from the haze on the animals. Temperatures were hot and humid, contributing to the animals' absence.

The primary reason, however, was the fruiting season in the surrounding forest. This season, which typically transpires between July and September, supplies the orangutans with an abundance of food within their natural habitat. As a result, they do not venture out to the feeding platform. A ranger at the centre stated that typically, one or two orangutans would visit the platform, including Malim, an alpha male.

Now, due to the fruiting season, the orangutans prefer to stay within their own territories. The ranger added that the absence of orangutans from the platform is common during this time. During a visit, visitors were treated to a sighting of a mother orangutan with her baby moving through the jungle near the walkway. The pair were observed feeding on fruit near the Orang Utan Outdoor Nursery Building.

Despite the lack of orangutans at the feeding platform, the centre remains a popular destination for both local and foreign visitors. They gather at the best spots and wait for the feeding session, which begins at 10am. While visitors prepared their cameras, various fruits had been placed on the feeding platform. After 30 minutes, there was still no sign of the orangutans.

The ranger explained that orangutans typically would not appear if they had not arrived within the first 30 minutes. A boatman confirmed that a check along the Kinabatangan River also found no orangutans, with most believed to be remaining in the forest during the fruiting season.