BONDAN

In the early morning at Jerora Forest School, as observation hours began, Bondan was already in the middle canopy by herself, far from her group. She seemed to enjoy the kempilik fruits, which were abundant in the forest. Bondan spent about 30 minutes on the branches of a kempilik tree before continuing her exploration to the lower canopy. While exploring, she also ate young leaves she encountered, showing her varied and independent diet.

By midday, Bondan was seen on the forest floor, still alone but not far from Joss. She strolled leisurely along the forest floor and discovered rattan fruits. Bondan ate the fruits enthusiastically, her mouth darkened by the rattan fruit sap. Occasionally, she rested by swinging on lianas, enjoying her solitude before continuing her exploration.

During her exploration, Bondan searched for termite nests—a favorite activity of hers at forest school. After about 30 minutes of searching, she found a termite nest and began eating it. However, before she could finish, Joss arrived and snatched the nest from her. Bondan did not resist and allowed Joss to take it. Calmly, she continued her activities, wandering along the forest floor while eating nearby leaves.

Shortly after, Joss joined Bondan, and the two explored together. Their interactions on the forest floor were filled with joy; they often played together by rolling around, wrestling, and giving gentle bites—all done without any intention to harm. These play sessions usually lasted about five minutes before they continued exploring forest together.

Besides to her interactions with Joss, Bondan displayed unique behavior toward humans. When encountering observers she disliked, Bondan would approach them with a dominant expression, attempting to drive them toward the electric fence. Once the observer was near the fence, Bondan would continue her activities in the area, occasionally checking to ensure the observer remained near the fence. Once she felt secure, Bondan would return to exploring deeper into the forest or playing with Joss.

Bondan’s days at Jerora Forest School not only highlight her skills in foraging and adapting to the forest environment but also illustrate her social bond with Joss and her reactions to the presence of humans.