Sunday, March 26, 2006
Wet and Wild
Another 3 points for the Blues last night, still cruising towards back-to-back titles - just hope we can get past Liverpool in the FA Cup to complete a centenary year double. That would be so sweet!
Anyway, that's the important stuff out of the way (just kidding...) so on with the Jungle Trekking adventures.
Another day with Rosali today, but pretty lousy with the nest spotting for the first two-thirds of the trek. We were on a route heading for the Water Hole but despite the recent rains there wasn't too much flooding on the trail, just lots of sticky mud. For some reason the leeches were keeping away from me today, maybe they could sense i was still pretty angry about the one on Friday!
As we neared the Water Hole the nest count started to rise and we ended up with a total of six, including one very fresh one. Not too bad after all.
The Water Hole itself is very pretty, a couple of small waterfalls with a deep plungepool in between. Across the first fall is a big fallen tree. Of course, me being me, i wanted to pose on it for the obligatory photo. But I nearly didn't make it on to the log at all as i slipped on the rocks at the top and only just managed to stop myself from sliding down the waterfall by grabbing onto a loose tree root! With pride hurt almost as much as my bum, I regained my composure and eased myself out along it. Very impressive, eh? Whaddya mean "NO"??!!
Oh well, the water looked even more inviting after that, so Nick and I left Rosali and Vicky in charge of the camera and dived in.
Plenty of time there for swimming and diving (and more posing of course!).
Boy - was that refreshing, after getting so hot and sweaty on the trek.
Eventually it was time to get out, check for leeches inside wet boxers (just in case...!!), drip dry, get dressed and then squelch back along the route home.
This afternoon worked with Nick on the new play area again. We are starting to put up the roof panels and coconut leave thatching, but with the days ticking by it could be a close call as to whether we get it all finished and kitted out with scramble nets and ropes in time to see some babies playing on it before we leave here.
Time has flown by so fast - i can't quite believe that this time next week i'll be on my flight home!
Then what will i do?
Maybe i could start up an Orangutan Sanctuary near Brighton??!! First i'd need to import a rainforest from Borneo (shouldn't be too hard if they still carry on logging here), but then would have to do something about the weather.
Hmmmmm.... This plan needs a bit more thought.... :-)
Release Progress: Well it's a BIG up for the girls this afternoon - i just heard that Annelisa and Susanna both ventured away from the Outdoor Nursery for the first time today and then showed up at the feeding platform this afternoon, after spending most of the day doing their own thing in the forest. This is great news, another step taken to living free in the Sepilok Reserve! Way to go girls! The four boys (Tompong, Kimbal, Toby and Brock) have hardly ventured away from the holding cage, even though all six of the orangutans from Indoor have been free to wander during the daytime.
Well, it's going to be an even bigger step for all six in the group tonight as they are ALL going to be left outside the cage for the first time. I'll try to find out how they fared and give you an update ASAP later...
Anyway, that's the important stuff out of the way (just kidding...) so on with the Jungle Trekking adventures.Another day with Rosali today, but pretty lousy with the nest spotting for the first two-thirds of the trek. We were on a route heading for the Water Hole but despite the recent rains there wasn't too much flooding on the trail, just lots of sticky mud. For some reason the leeches were keeping away from me today, maybe they could sense i was still pretty angry about the one on Friday!
As we neared the Water Hole the nest count started to rise and we ended up with a total of six, including one very fresh one. Not too bad after all.
The Water Hole itself is very pretty, a couple of small waterfalls with a deep plungepool in between. Across the first fall is a big fallen tree. Of course, me being me, i wanted to pose on it for the obligatory photo. But I nearly didn't make it on to the log at all as i slipped on the rocks at the top and only just managed to stop myself from sliding down the waterfall by grabbing onto a loose tree root! With pride hurt almost as much as my bum, I regained my composure and eased myself out along it. Very impressive, eh? Whaddya mean "NO"??!!
Oh well, the water looked even more inviting after that, so Nick and I left Rosali and Vicky in charge of the camera and dived in.
Plenty of time there for swimming and diving (and more posing of course!).Boy - was that refreshing, after getting so hot and sweaty on the trek.
Eventually it was time to get out, check for leeches inside wet boxers (just in case...!!), drip dry, get dressed and then squelch back along the route home.
This afternoon worked with Nick on the new play area again. We are starting to put up the roof panels and coconut leave thatching, but with the days ticking by it could be a close call as to whether we get it all finished and kitted out with scramble nets and ropes in time to see some babies playing on it before we leave here.Time has flown by so fast - i can't quite believe that this time next week i'll be on my flight home!
Then what will i do?
Maybe i could start up an Orangutan Sanctuary near Brighton??!! First i'd need to import a rainforest from Borneo (shouldn't be too hard if they still carry on logging here), but then would have to do something about the weather.
Hmmmmm.... This plan needs a bit more thought.... :-)
Release Progress: Well it's a BIG up for the girls this afternoon - i just heard that Annelisa and Susanna both ventured away from the Outdoor Nursery for the first time today and then showed up at the feeding platform this afternoon, after spending most of the day doing their own thing in the forest. This is great news, another step taken to living free in the Sepilok Reserve! Way to go girls! The four boys (Tompong, Kimbal, Toby and Brock) have hardly ventured away from the holding cage, even though all six of the orangutans from Indoor have been free to wander during the daytime.
Well, it's going to be an even bigger step for all six in the group tonight as they are ALL going to be left outside the cage for the first time. I'll try to find out how they fared and give you an update ASAP later...
// posted by storri @ 9:08 pm 
