Semenggoh Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre is undoubtedly one of the best attractions in the Kuching area. It offers the opportunity of getting close to some highly mischievous, semi-wild Orang Utan. Semenggoh became the first forest reserve in Sarawak in 1920. It was turned into a wild life rehabilitation centre for monkeys, Orang Utans, honey bears and hornbills in 1975.
The aim is to reintroduce as many of the animals as possible to their natural habitat, as many had been orphaned by logging or were being illegally kept as pets. There is more to see in the morning as the young monkeys and Orang Utans are put back in their cages at 3pm. The best time to visit Semenggoh is during feeding time, which takes place between 8.30-9am and 3-3.30 pm.
The semi-wild Orang Utans are good timekeepers and as feeding time approaches they start to make an appearance. They descend from the trees of the surrounding forest reserve to offer visitors a unique wildlife experience and some excellent photo opportunities. They often make their way to the lower branches and small trees, which surround the various Orang Utan enclosures, the very same cages, where they used to stay before graduating to the forest. Here, they play with each other, swing about in the hanging vines and occasionally descend to ground level to 'charge' groups of tourists.
Just don't hope too much on the above statement .
My last trip to Semanggoh wild life centre in Kuching was on September 2009 & I was here to accompany the members of my family from Ampang Selangor.To-day I was here to assist my friend to accompany him to bring a group of tourist from Italy & Germany.To-day trip is not very interesting as I already told my friend & the tourist that we are indeed very lucky if we can see one or two orang utan around this time of December. Even though its not a fruits season yet but normally December is the wild fruits season (wild fruits that not on sale in town).I'm not a tourist guide but I'm just helping my friends to photograph the tourist .
24 orangutans live freely in the jungle. ...
After briefing by the Ranger we proceed to the forest trying to look for Ritchie the oldest & the biggest orang utan in this wildlife.Normally feeding time is 09:00am & 3:00pm daily and the ranger don't have to call the orang utan to feed but to-day Orang Utans are no good timekeepers and as feeding time approaches they did not make an appearance.Out of 24 orang utans only three is descending from the trees of the surrounding forest reserve to offer visitors a unique wildlife experience and some excellent photo opportunities. (my photo to-day is not excellent).
The ranger who guide us try to call Ritchie..he did not shout 'RITCHIE !!!!" your have visitors. Please, come out they have fresh fruits for you""""animal always an animal so the ranger only shout 'WOOHOOOO'.....just a normal signal to orang utan that there is a human to visit you guys for photograph .Well, orang utan is an animal & an animal is always an animal so keep your distance and no camera flash allowed or else they become wild.(sorry my snap is not that sharp to-day)just like the orang utan they have no mood to come out to meet human to-day.
Flower.flower.......
Just a wild orchid in the forest ... To-day I saw many tourist, foreign or local visiting the wild life but very,very sorry out of many orang utan only three are willing to meet us and this three orang utan seem not in a mood to welcome us.For Ritchie perhaps on holiday to-day ,no sign of him in spite of many call.You guys can E-mail me (uncleawang at G mail dot com) for assistance & don't e-mail Ritchie the orang utan.
