WEDNESDAY July 14, 2010

GUESS WHAT??

Here’s What!!

We have word of release of 2 orphans from our Care Center!!!

The one and only Cheakey and another monkey, a longtail Macaque were released into Lamandau Reserve this past weekend by Dr. Birute Galdikas during the OFI Tour Extension! For those who don’t know… if you go on the OFI Borneo Summer Tour you have the option of staying on and seeing a special release.  This happened for this group this past weekend and what an amazing one they got to see!!

Check out the tours here! And start thinking about next summer!

http://www.irenespencertravel.com/borneo.htm

Listen to this:
On Friday the Care Center staff created a duel cage for the two orphans to share during the trip to the release site.  Cheakey had to be sedated because apparently he was getting “cheaky”!  After a long car and klowtok ride they all arived safely at a release/feeding site which is deep and safe within the reserve.
Dr. Birute Galdikas led a scientific prayer for the group before the release.   First released was the smaller longtail Macaque in order to give him time to escape.  Unfortunately, this guy had some plans of his own.  He didn’t leave his cage!  The group tried to bribe him with bananas! Finally he came out.  The group waited and waited, cameras ready, but this guy just did not want to escape into the forest!  Finally Dr. Birute told the staff assistants to open the other part of cage to let Cheakey free.
Everyone backed up and Cheakey secured the area as his own!

Then…the longtail came up and hugged cheaky!  Janie (our on site coordinator) says they kissed!   <3    <3    <3

Janie has been back to check on them and they were both there for the feedings the next day. Hopefully soon they will become comfortable with the area and move further away and disappear into the forest!

This is from our lovely Ruth at the Center!

WOWZA!  Cheakey must like to get cheakey and get what he wants!!

Here are some photos of the Lamandau Reserve, the boat rides that take place, and a lovely photo of Dr. Birute M. Galdikas!