Jennifer Thornton Wieland, niece of Laney Thornton, a passionate conservationist and long-time Rare supporter, just returned with her family from a five-day site visit to a Rare Pride campaign underway on the island of Borneo.  Jennifer’s family witnessed first-hand both the beauty and the importance of saving this critical orangutan habitat, and learned what Rare and its local partner Yayorin are doing to help this community successfully address this conservation challenge.

What a wonderful day with the orangutans!  It seems like nothing can describe the experience of sharing the jungle with these beautiful, amazing primates.  Our day started trekking through the forest with a group of nine excited hikers – members of my family, Nigel and Lindsay from Rare, and me.  About twenty minutes into our two hour journey, we were delighted to be joined by a tenth companion, an orangutan named Sampson.  Sampson, a seventeen year old son of Siswi, a very engaging and gregarious resident of Tanjung Putting National Park, was happy to have crossed our path.

Jennifer with her uncle Laney Thornton and Sampson, the hiking orangutan who joined the group on a hike.

After the usual photo opportunities and some proud orangutan posing on Sampson’s part, we continued on our way.  If you have never been on a walk, in the forests of Borneo, with an incredible orangutan as part of your clan, let’s just say that I highly recommend it as an experience of a lifetime that shouldn’t be missed.  The afternoon brought more incredible experiences and interactions with the magnificent orangutan.

Jennifer with Rare staff member Lindsay Hower posing with Siswi, an orangutan who greeted the Rare group on the dock of Camp Leakey, an orangutan rehabilitation center.

After Sampson left us to find his lunch, we headed back to the klotok, our wooden vessel on which we slept, ate and traveled.  Careful to enjoy every opportunity to see the orangs, Togu Simorangkir (Executive Director from Yayorin) accompanied me on a trail as the others walked ahead.  As we approached Siswi, we learned from some of the human residents at Camp Leaky that Tom, the dominant male orangutan of the entire troop in this area, was in a nest in a tree above.  Togu, a former researcher based at Camp Leaky, had not seen Tom in over a year so this was a rare and special opportunity for both him and me.  We called the others to join us.  Tom sat up in his nest then came down to join us.  He was quick to show off his incredibly huge orangutan body, complete with enormous orangutan cheekpads.  If we had not already been told, it would have been a good educated guess that this was indeed the dominant male.  Tom did not disappoint and presented us with great photo moments then sat with Siswi and shared a big bucket of milk presented to them by some friends.

Tom, the dominant male orangutan of the entire reserve’s troop, says hello to Jennifer and the Rare group.

An incredible moment in the wild, with orangutans completely free to do whatever or go wherever they pleased at any time, was happening now.  How lucky I was to have been there and been a part of it.  Now, sitting on the klotok, heading back to a different reality, I cannot help but know that I will forever be changed by this day, in Borneo, with my friends, the orangutans.

Jennifer “doing yoga” with Siswi on the dock before the group left the orangutan rehabilitation center.

>>Read about the Rare Pride campaign currently underway to help protect threatened orangutans on the island of Borneo

>>Learn about other trips offered through Rare

If you are interested in joining an upcoming trip to a Rare Pride campaign site please contact Lindsay Hower at lhower@rareconservation.org.