A TERRIFIC TRIO
Do you remember the orangutans we released into the Kehje Sewen Forest in May? Amongst them are Andreas, Riana, and Leann. Find out how they are doing in their new home in the forest.
Andreas, Riana, and Leann are routinely monitored from nest to nest by our Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team. PRM teams consist of two to three persons who record the daily activities of the orangutans under observation and ensure they adjust successfully to their new surroundings.
According to the observations, Andreas, Leann, and Riana are regularly interacting with one another. All three graze on trees’ young leaves and cambium beneath the bark. When Andreas ran from a swarm of wasps whom he had disturbed, something unexpected happened. Riana took the opportunity to separate herself from Andreas and Leann. Riana eagerly travelled from one tree to another until she encountered an unknown orangutan.
The stranger appeared interested in Riana and even shared food with her. However, when the mysterious ladies’ man attempted to copulate, Riana eventually moved away.
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- Andreas and Leann are spending time together…
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- …while Riana is exploring the forest on her own.
At the same time, Andreas and Leann were still busy exploring, eating, and resting together. Leann was the clear leader in this pair, with Andreas always following and imitating her actions.
The day of monitoring came to an end when our team lost track of the three orangutans. Young orangutans like Andreas, Leann, and Riana spend little time on the ground and travel far distances. Their quick travel over the hills of the forest left the PRM team far beyond on the ground below as the sun set. They eventually called the day to return to camp before it got completely dark.
Until recently, neither Andreas, Riana, nor Leann had been watched by the team until they made their night nests, as they often ventured far into the forest. We realise these three orangutans are still adjusting to life in the wild and finding their home ranges.
