Banir’s story this month was pretty similar to Redi’s since they are in the same group. During September, Banir was also observed by Dina, a female research student from Tanjungpura University (UNTAN) who is studying “Interactions between young orangutans and keepers.” Her observations will continue until early November as part of the ongoing research.

September in Sintang is quite dry. This region is experiencing prolonged hot and dry weather, and the forest was noticeably drier than usual. Some of the smaller trees were starting to dry out, and the vegetation didn’t look as fresh as it normally does. The heat was also pretty intense at times; Sintang even recorded very high temperatures at the beginning of the month.

Towards the end of September, though, things started to change a little. Rain began falling again, mostly at night, and over the last few days the weather has been more cloudy. After such a long dry period, the rain has made the forest feel a bit cooler and more comfortable. The air feels less hot, and the forest has started to get some much-needed moisture again.

Compared to Redi, Banir appears far more aloof and less interested in humans, including keepers and any newcomers in the vicinity. Even when strangers are present, Banir mostly just went about her usual activities, seemingly unbothered by their presence. She spent much of time exploring her surroundings and foraging for food, which seemed to be her main focus throughout the day.

Banir’s eating pattern was normal, with no noticeable changes or health issues observed during the monitoring period. She continued to eat well and stay active while exploring the forest.

In terms of social interaction, Banir appears to prefer solitude.  She often prefers to spend time by herself, moving about and exploring without the company of other orangutans. However, this does not mean she avoids others entirely; occasionally, she joins other orangutans and spends time with the group before returning to her solitary ways.

Overall, Banir looked healthy and pretty consistent with her usual behavior throughout September. She seemed comfortable doing her own thing, staying active, exploring, and looking for food, while remaining relatively unfazed by the presence of keepers, researchers, or new people around him. With the weather starting to shift from the long dry period into more rainy and cloudy days, it will be interesting to see how the changing forest conditions affect her daily activities over the coming weeks.