We were greeted with the news that the lake was at a level too low for the tourist bots to cross to the Orang Utan Island, due to lack of rain and the lake water being used to irrigate the paddy fields. James and Jonathan spent 10 minutes or so talking to the reception staff and manage to negotiate a private (smaller) boat trip to the island on the basis that we'd come all the way from the UK to see the Orang Utans.
So, after a short wait we were taken on a very slow boat ride across the lake, with a man stood at the front to guide the driver away from the areas of the lake that were too shallow. We felt under pressure that the 9 of us were making the boat too heavy to make it across the lake, but after 45 minutes we made it.
We were rewarded immediately with the sight of 3 Orang Utans playing on a platform and ropes. Our guide told us about the ages and characteristics of these 3 young and we enjoyed watching them play. There are 20 Orang Utans on the island and we saw 10 of them today, including the 120kg dominant male called B-J and a mother and her 18 month old baby so we were really fortunate. Our guide was great at providing interesting information and the Orang Utans were keen to see us and we're watchful as they had not had visitors on the Island for some time. At this rehabilitation centre they are aiming to breed Boenean Orang Utans so that they are not endangerd any more. They breed them on one island then set them free on another island away from humans. So at the breeding centre the Orang Utans roam free and we were walking through a 200m tunnel/cage, which was a nice change.
We felt really privileged with our private tour as on a day when the park is fully open the tour group would be 40 people and it would have been more difficult to see the Orang Utans. The highlight of the trip was when we were allowed access to the walkway to the education centre and get really close up to some of the Orang Utans.
Another 45 min boat trip back to the mainland (with complementary drinks/ ice creams) and we went to a food court for lunch.
We stopped off at youth park on the way home to cool down in the public plunge pools, which the boys were ready for after travelling with 9 of us in the car for so long.
American tea of burgers and fries finished off the day perfectly. A tasty end to a day of adventure and amazing wildlife.
Things we learned about Malaysia today:
Orang Utans have 97% the same DNA as humans.
Lake water is used to irrigate fields if there is no rain.
You have to pay to get on Penang island but not to leave (whether you travel by either of the 2 bridges or the ferry)
No comments:
Post a Comment