Although it is possible to see orangutans in the wild, it is definitely not a certainty that you will be able to find them (to end your suspense, I will tell you that I was lucky enough to see two wild orangs!!! details to follow). Thus, if you want to be sure of geting an up close and personal look at an orangutan in relatively "natural conditions" then you can go to one of the orangutan rehabilitation centers.
I visited the Sepilok Orantutan Rehabilitation Center located near Sandakan. The purpose of the center is to prepare orphaned orangs to be returned to the wild. I think that they said that there were currently 16 orangs undergoing the rehabilitation process and hopefully one day they will all be successfully returned to the wild. The process of rehabilitating these apes is described in these websites.
http://www.sabah.edu.my/srm012.wcdd/BM/menu1.html
http://www.orangutan-appeal.org.uk/sepilok-rehabilitation-centre/
The best time to see the orangutans is during feeding time. It was raining, but that didn't stop three orangs, including two mom's with babies, from coming down to feed.
This boardwalk through the forest led to the feeding area.
When we arrived at the feeding area there was an orangutan hiding from the rain under the bushes.
People, of course, were not smart enough to come in out of the rain.
The feeding platform.
Here she comes!
Mom and baby
2 moms, 2 babies, and 1 keeper. One of the babies was three months old and the other was four months old.
Here comes the male.
Female (left) and male (right). They provide a bucket of milk and bananas every day (you can see the male using his hand to scoop up some milk). They keep the additional diet intentionally monotonous to encourage the orangs to learn to go out and feed on their own.
A face only a mother could love?
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