Published June 28, 2021 | Animals, Conservation, Endangered, Love, rescue

Last October 2019, Bali Safari Park celebrated World Animal Day with an important message about the dangers of human activities to the lives of orangutans. On this special event, Bali Safari Park’s cheeky baby orangutan duo were introduced to the public.

 

Orangutans in Bali Safari

As a testament to Bali Safari Park’s successful breeding program, two orangutans, Cherry and George, were born in captivity about two years ago. They were born from different mothers and have an age gap of only a month. This is one reason why the baby orangutans are inseparable. From the start, they’ve become instant friends.

In a community of orangutans, it’s important for babies and young orangutans to find playmates of similar age, with the same energy and playfulness. It’s also important for our safari park rangers to learn to play with orangutans in a way that satisfies their emotional and physical needs.

Cherry and George want to meet you

Baby Orangutans in Bali Safari

Orangutans are so similar to us that it’s always fascinating to learn about them. In fact, you can directly meet Cherry and George every Monday at the Orangutan Playground in Bali Safari Park. Learn about how the babies interact and play with each other, and how they interact with you!

In the wild, baby orangutans communicate with their mothers in similar ways that we do. For example, if they are hungry, they cry; when they are hurt, they whimper; when they are happy, they smile and laugh.

The similarities between young orangutans and young humans are so uncanny. This is why orangutans are worth protecting so that they continue to exist on Earth alongside with us.

Bon Bon, the rescued baby orangutan who returned to the wild

Bon Bon Orangutan in Bali

You may still remember Bon Bon and his story on the news. After a failed smuggling attempt, Bon Bon was rescued by airport officials, and was nursed back to full health by park rangers and vets of Bali Safari Park.

On 17 December 2019, after 9 months of rehabilitation, Bon Bon began his next journey to become a true wild orangutan. Sumatra’s official Institute of Natural Conservation is now tasked to take care of Bon Bon to adulthood.

Guardians of the Forest

Orangutans play an important role in the wild to balance the ecosystem of the North Sumatran and Kalimantan rainforests. They spread the seeds of the fruits which they eat, which enables the growth of more trees. Illegal logging and burning of rainforests, and transforming rainforests into plantations, have misplaced and killed hundreds of orangutans each year. Survivors are still under threat of poaching and animal trafficking.

Bali Safari Park takes wildlife conservation very seriously. To learn more about orangutans, and what you can do to help save them, visit Bali Safari Park and book a safari journey to complement your environmental education.