BANIR

In mid-October, Banir and her mother, Benazir, were successfully transferred from the isolation cage to the social cage. The relocation process involved collaboration between the medical team and animal keepers, including light sedation for Banir and Benazir to ensure calmness during their transition to the new environment.

In this social cage, Banir and Benazir discovered many new features that weren’t present in their previous isolation area, such as hammocks and hanging tires, which have now become their favorites. Banir especially enjoys swinging back and forth on the tire with excitement, while Benazir also actively uses the hammock and takes advantage of the swings. Banir’s playful personality has become even more apparent in this space. Every time the animal keeper approaches, Banir often comes right over, making unique sounds as if teasing them, showing her growing confidence. She even climbs onto the hammock and shakes it, almost as if trying to “scare” the keepers.

Amid the intense dry season heat in Sintang Regency, bath time in the social cage has become a joy for Banir and Benazir. They use the flowing drinking tap to cool off. The animal keepers have also installed a shade net in front of their enclosure to reduce direct sunlight, creating a cooler, shaded space for them. Banir seems especially delighted playing with water in the afternoon when the sun faces the cage directly, pressing the tap with one hand and catching water with the other, then pouring it over herself from head to toe. She does this activity with great concentration, sometimes taking turns with Benazir, who also thoroughly enjoys these bathing moments—creating an amusing scene for the keepers watching them.

As November approaches, Banir and Benazir will begin an electric fence training at Jerora Forest School. After last attending forest school in 2022 at Tembak Forest School, this session will be an important moment for Banir and Benazir to once again learn the safe boundaries within the forest area. This training is part of the rehabilitation process at the Sintang Orangutan Center to ensure they remain within the forest school area and stay safe.

This opportunity marks a significant milestone for Banir, who is soon to turn four, in her learning journey toward living in the wild. The forest school will be a place for Banir to acquire essential survival skills, both from her mother, Benazir, and from other orangutans. This experience will not only enhance Banir’s adaptation but also help her gain the knowledge and skills that will be crucial when she is eventually ready to return to her natural habitat in the forest