Semenggoh Wildlife Centre Tour: Discover Sarawak’s Orangutans

ned or rescued from captivity, how to survive in the wild. The success of this programme has left the surrounding forest reserve with a thriving population of healthy adolescent and young adult orang utans, who are now breeding in the wild. The programme has been transferred to Matang Wildlife Centre, but Semenggoh is still home to its successful graduates, semi-wild orang utans and their babies. They spend most of their time roaming the forest but frequently come back to the Centre for a free meal. If it is the fruiting season in the forest, some or even all of them may not come to feed. This in itself is a good sign and another step on the way to full rehabilitation. Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is home to semi – wild orang utans where they are trained to fend for themselves in their natural surrounding. Some or even all the orang utans may not come to the centre to feed ( 0900hrs / 1500hrs ) especially if it is fruiting season in the forest. Tour start and proceed for 20 minutes’ drive to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. The Centre is the biggest Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sarawak that established in 1975 as a sanctuary for the injured and orphaned Orang Utans. These animals are trained or re-trained to survive in their natural habitat. They learn how to forage for natural food and build nests in the trees. However there are few that will never re-learn their wild skills due to their long association with and resulting dependence on humans. Take a walk on the trails and try to spot semi-wild Orang Utans. There are feeding times scheduled every day at the feeding platform.  However always bear in mind that the main aim of the Centre is to return these animals back into their habitat. Do not be disappointed if you do not see any roaming the jungles or coming back to feed as this means they are able to forage on their own and do not need human assistance.