Today I took out Peanut. As I was trying to undo his cage he kept trying to lift up my shirt and put it in his mouth – he even stuck his finger in my bellybutton at one point! He decided to hang on to me with two hands today and Bella Luna was on the platform with her baby when we arrived. They stayed for most of the session. Her baby doesn't have a name yet, and they aren't sure how old he is, but he is super small and absolutely adorable. He clung to his mother the whole time and they spent a lot of time on the ropes looking at us. I cannot express how amazing it is to just watch them. Kala is back after being sick. He sat with Amoy and she showed him a video on her phone – which he seemed fascinated by, even reaching out to kiss the screen. Then he let out a huge sneeze, and being the curious animals they are, he stuck his finger up his nose and ate it.

It was a fairly uneventful morning, with everyone disappearing into the forest. Chiquita was the only one who returned – and she came right to me, as I had some bread in my hand, which she couldn't wait to snatch. I took her around to wash her feet and then just before we got to her cage she decided to do her usual stunt and run off. She kept play biting me and eventually I just couldn't hold her any more and she sat proudly on the back row of cages. I made several attempts to grab her, but she is far too quick for me. So I went to get a piece of bread and thankfully that brought her straight back to me, and ended her freedom. Not that she should be rewarded for naughtiness!

When we arrived at the fruit store in the afternoon, Goman and Gelison were there, so Steph and I took Goman by each hand, although he was desperate to escape and head back. Apparently Yokmil (the big, wild male) visited the outdoor area again just after we left. And then he caused mischief in the afternoon around the indoor nursery – including chasing James and his milk jug! All of the orangutans were a bit on edge. Goman got really nervous again and didn't want to climb anything – he bit my finger quite hard at one point when I tried to force him up a pole. The rope that led into the jungle started swinging quite a bit and he freaked out, as he thought it was Yokmil. But it was another mother and baby, Clenan and Awantang, so he calmed down after that. Bella Luna also made a return visit.

Just before it was time to head back, Peanut decided to head over to the bench where we sit and climb into the empty fruit buckets, sucking the edge the whole time. Then he turned around and sat in it head first, with his bum sticking out. Then, when I took him in, he spotted one of the buckets we use for cleaning, and obviously decided he wasn't done with buckets for the day. So he reached out and grabbed it and tried to put it on his head. When I snatched it from him, he reached for the other bucket, before trying to grab multiple bottles of Ajax and cleaner and shove the lids in his mouth. Every time I managed to get his hand free he would grab on with another one. It was only when Victor entered that he decided to behave himself - surprise surprise!

We need to walk back past the indoor nursery on our way out of the centre, and there was Yokmil, standing at the cage where another big male, Tiger, is currently being kept while awaiting release. Apparently he was challenging him and trying to bite his fingers - not that poor Tiger can really defend himself or escape! All the rangers were standing around watching, and Ellis was hosing him, but Yokmil didn't even flinch (remember they are seven times stronger than us). He stood solid and tall against the cage, staring intently at Tiger.

Archie, one of the babies, was up in the tree, too scared to come down after Yokmil arrived. But he decided to be brave and make a run for it. He clung to Carrie as soon as he reached her. Suddenly Yokmil started to turn and the rangers yelled at everyone to run – there were at least ten of us that made a run for it, it was quite a sight to behold. Then James tried to lure Mimi (a female who Yokmil has been hanging out with) along the boardwalk and away from the nursery. It worked for a while, but she veered off course. Soon it was a stand off – with Yokmil positioned between James and Papa Watti (one of the rangers who is married to Mamma Watti - hence the nickname). Suddenly Yokmil decided to head for Papa Watti – who started hitting him with a stick he was holding. The stick broke and Papa Watti started to retreat, but then circled back and tried again with some of the remaining stick. Yokmil was standing his ground and opening his mouth as wide as he could, baring his teeth and majestically parading along the platform. Papa Watti rapped his knuckles and stood his ground, even though he was only a few feet away and, against all odds, Yokmil retreated and begrudgingly climbed up a nearby tree.
In the evening we headed to a bar/grocery store, which is about 15 minutes walk away. One of the researchers was leaving, so a few people were gathering to say goodbye to her. I got talking to Lauren, another researcher who has been working with macaques here for over a year! Steph and April played darts, and Steph landed a bulls-eye! We only stayed for just over an hour, as the feral dogs come out after dark and we didn't want to encounter them.