Quite a bit of action with the babies today. Bakut and Maohun were allowed out to the big cage as their diarrhoea has improved – but it was quite a struggle trying to keep them both inside it when they wanted to join the others outside. When you open the door to the big outdoor cage you have to stand quite close, as the babies all literally launch themselves at you! You often have at least three hanging off you in various places. Bakut is absolutely adorable – probably the cutest one there – but Jack and I both found out today that he is a biter. He will happily have a little chomp on your hand if you're not taking him where he wants to go!

Ospie is notorious for climbing for a while and trying to come back in early – but today she really didn't want to go back out. Then we realised she was covered in ants! Don't know where she got them from, she must have dropped down into a bush, but we all sat with her and had to pluck them off.

Nonong also came out to the big cage today. God I feel so sorry for her. She is such a good girl, and follows Ibri without the need to hold her – she just calls her name. Nonong had a stroke after contracting malaria, which is why she is paralysed in one arm, and can never be released. We feed her milk in the morning, as she can't hold the bottle properly, and she looks like a lost soul. She has wild eyes and hair, and it does sometimes seem like a struggle for her to process what's going on around her. But she seems happy, despite her struggles.

At lunch I made a trip over to Mamma Watti's (who we met on our first day) for an ice cream – and I ended up having a roti too. It was delicious. It's like a filo pastry-type pancake with a spicy dip. Very good indeed, and costs about 50p!

In the afternoon it started to sprinkle and we had a difficult time keeping everyone out on the ropes. One of the orangutans was hanging on near the exit of the big cage and decided to wee – which landed on Ibri's head! Sepilok constantly makes numerous attempts to come back in – and he grips on so tight it is a real struggle to get him back out. Even with two (or sometimes four) of us, he always manages to get a hand or foot free and grab us, or the fence, or anything, to avoid going out. But as soon as Ibri comes along and gives him a look, he shoots out there!

Koko was also determined to head in today- and when we made her go back out the screaming was insane, like a child chucking a tantrum. It was so high pitched it went right through you. She threw a proper strop, and then hung there sucking her thumb. The babies tend to put their hands and feet in their mouths all the time – they are just like human babies in so many ways. As she was so close to us on the rope, and so still for such a long time, it is the first time I have had a chance to really look at one of the orangutans. They are truly amazing. Their hands and feet are practically the same, with long fingers and toes and little black nails. They all have different fur, but Koko's stands up long and tall from her limbs, and she doesn't have much on her chest, so you can see her skin quite clearly underneath – patches of skin tone marbled with black – a little like a cow. But it's their little faces that get you. Tiny little ears shaped exactly like human ears only smaller, and a bumpy brown head, covered with fine hair. Some orangutans are dark, some more orange. Some are practically bald, some have hair going in all directions, some sticks dead upright, while some have curly or crimped looking hair. They have two little slanted nostrils embedded above their mouth, and their lips and mouths are very soft and malleable. Every now and again I give them a little poke on their top lip if they want to play. They have strong teeth, and are very good at ripping open bananas, tearing up sugar cane etc. They do bite, but it's play biting to get you to bend to their will. The eyes are always a deep brown – and you can't see the whites unless they are really looking far in one direction or another.

When the babies are sucking from their bottle they make direct eye contact for pretty much the entire time – their eyes alone make you fall in love with them. As I was watching them today it made me remember that these are the lucky ones – even though they have lost their mums, they are alive, and they will be wild again one day thanks to all those who work at the centre. It breaks my heart to think how many of them weren't so lucky!