Day 32 - Back in Juvie

Today we were back working with the juveniles. They all needed blood tests this morning, so we got each one out in turn and had to help hold them down on a silver medical table. Just like children, they aren't too happy about needles, only these children are a lot stronger! Some of the new recruits joined us, and we had one person on each arm and leg, and Amoy was holding their head and talking to them to keep them calm while the vet inserted the needle. Before Gelison was let out, he kept trying to reach through the bars to grab Victor's radio, as he knew he was distracted. I helped with Chiquita and Gelison – they were both pretty well behaved, although it took a while to find a vein on Gelison. All of the males weed all over the table– guess they were nervous, poor things. Victor was very jokey today and told me I was holding them wrong – and took my hand and moved it to hold his instead! He thinks he is hilarious! I also got to walk out Goman this morning, and they were all on their best behaviour.

In the afternoon, Goman dropped to the floor and tried to escape up to the visitor centre, which is very unusual behaviour for him. April and I went to fetch him but he went all limp and would not go back on any of the ropes or platforms. He seemed really nervous, which we assumed was because of two other semi-wild orangutans that had recently arrived – although he isn't normally bothered by that kind of thing. April went to fetch Gelison, who had also decided to try and run off. Then, as I looked up to place Goman on one of the platforms, I saw the problem!

An absolutely massive male orangutan had just appeared on the end of the rope that leads out into the deeper forest. Goman must have sensed he was coming, or heard something we didn't. Amoy told us he and Gelison would be frightened because they have only seen one dominant male orangutan before. I tried a few more times with Goman, but he was so frightened he just clung to me however he could, so I took him back inside.

When I returned, the male was sitting on one of the feeding platforms, and he was such a sight to behold. He was absolutely huge – probably the size of a fully grown adult, with a huge neck and flanges on either side of his face, and lots of long, dark hair all over his body. He was making lots of noises, whoops and calls that seemed to come from very deep within, as if to remind everyone who was boss. Every time he swung along the ropes he weighed them down massively, and the other orangutans made sure to give him a wide berth.

Mimi (a female wild orangutan) was with him, and decided to keep parting his hair to hold and kiss his private area! He headed to the second platform and Amoy took over a bucket with some bananas, as there wasn't much left after the first feeding. At first he was fine with her pouring them on the platform, but as she was nearly done he took a giant swipe at the bucket

and nearly sent it flying. Once he was done eating, he swung out onto the ropes again and watched the gathering crowd of rangers that had come to see him – apparently this only happens once in a blue moon. He was probably only around four metres away, and it was truly amazing to behold. He stayed for most of the afternoon session, and the time just flew by.

Soon it was time for everyone to head back in, and I took Peanut this time. He was very sweet, and as I washed his hands, one of the others snuck up behind him and pinched his bum, which really made him jump! I put him in the cage and as per usual he was trying to suck the lock, or my hand, or shirt or whatever he could grab.