BUILDING COURAGE AT SCHOOL
In the large group at Forest School, seven young orangutans actively play and learn together under the watchful care of our experienced surrogate mothers. It has been two months since these orphans moved to the site of the new school. Despite being in a safe environment, they are still easily startled by strange sounds coming from the surrounding forest.
As a place full of surprises, the Forest School often presents various mysterious sounds that can send shivers down anyone’s spine. These sounds can come from birds chirping, leaves rustling in the wind, or even insects hiding among the trees. However, among all these noises, one sound never fails to startle and frighten the young orangutans—the call of the greater coucal (Centropus sinensis).
The greater coucal has a loud, echoing call that rings through the forest, especially during the daytime. Whenever the young orangutans hear this bird’s call, they react in the same way—they quickly climb up the trees or rush to their surrogate mothers, seeking comfort by clinging tightly to their legs.
Aiko and Jenny are particularly fearful of the greater coucal’s call and immediately cling to each other high in the trees.
The fearful and the curious one
Among the seven orangutans in the group, two individuals are particularly fearful of the greater coucal’s call: Jenny and Aiko. These two five-year-old females immediately cling to each other high in the trees whenever they hear the bird’s call. They scan their surroundings cautiously, their expressions filled with concern. No one knows exactly what goes through their minds at that moment, but their surrogate mother, Haniati, speculates, “Maybe they think the sound comes from a large and frightening creature.”
It is common for Aiko and Jenny to search for each other when the coucal’s call suddenly echoes through the forest. Interestingly, even though they are afraid, they also seem comfortable in each other’s presence. Sometimes, they express their unease by making a kiss squeak vocalization, a sound orangutans use to show discomfort while shaking nearby branches.
A challenge to overcome fear
Although fear still occasionally grips these young orangutans, they are slowly learning to face it through experiences that strengthen their mental resilience and courage. With the guidance of their surrogate mothers, Aiko and Jenny will continue to develop ways to overcome their fears and better understand their new surroundings. More importantly, they need to learn how to distinguish real threats from harmless situations so that one day, they can confidently survive in their natural habitat.
