The ‘Mother’ of Orangutans from Nyaru Menteng
“Please be careful, don’t let the boat get too close to the trees. The orang-utans certainly seem fine. But, if they become angry again, they can suddenly jump from the trees above onto the boat”
The soft voice of May Sumarnae (29) at that very moment lessened the sense of adventure of Andri and Rustan for taking photos even closer. The boat which was carrying camera operators from private television networks in Jakarta was pushed back from under the trees.
In the trees above, simultaneously as the warning from May Sumarnae was given, a male orangutan suddenly displayed unfriendly behaviour. His sharp gaze to the people below seemed like a warning to the two men to move away from the female orang-utans who were in the middle of enjoying breakfast from the staff of the Nyaru Menteng Orang-utan Reintroduction Centre, Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan.
May is certainly not an eye-catching person amongst the 300 staff at the orangutan rehabilitation centre Nyaru Menteng, which is run by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS), Central Kalimantan. Before working in the communication section at Nyaru Menteng, May was a carer for baby orangutans which needed special care after being neglected.
Baby or infant orangutans which are in Nyaru Menteng rehabilitation centre, certainly need a lot of attention. Generally, the babies and infants which receive special care have had hard times, because many of their mothers were killed by humans.Either these orangutans have been confiscated from persons, who kept them illegally, or they were rescued from the ever expanding palm oil plantations.
Since 2002, May, a Dayak girl from the Kapuas regency in Kalimantan, has lived in a village of Sei Gohong. She began her career as a sitter of baby orangutans, and over the last 5 years has truly plunged herself into the middle of orangutan rehabilitation activities at the BOS orangutan reintroduction centre Nyaru Menteng.
“This work is very rewarding” said May, who graduated from the Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Palangkaraya in 2001.
A Few Stories
May was born as a Dayak from the Kapuas regency in Central Kalimantan, and proud to be one. Since she was small, May had become accustomed to the forest and lived according to nature and in balance with the natural environment. In an administrative sense, the Sei Gohong village is a part of the Palangkaraya city region, but in reality it is quite far from the bustle of the city. The needs of the village where May and her parents Herson (53) and Beda (48) live, are still met by the dense rainforest.
When she was small, the sounds of the animals were very close to her, including the calls of the orang-utans. Furthermore, the orang-utan rehabilitation centre at Nyaru Menteng was only a few kilometres from her village. Because of this proximity to her home, May had the opportunity to join in the BOS efforts at Nyarumenteng which made her happy.
The job as a babysitter for infant orangutans requires patience and understanding. During a year as a caregiver, May experienced many ups and downs. An unusual experience which she had was the time BOS at Nyaru Menteng received a baby orangutan from a confiscation, which was later on called Micky.
“The condition of Micky was very sad. He was very sick,” said May concerning the event of 5 years ago.
For the sake of Micky’s health, May even slept at the orangutan rehabilitation centre for 11 days. During this time she didn’t even go home to Sei Gohong because Micky’s conditions was instable due to constant diarrhoea. Not only this, later on it was found out that Micky’s illness had already attacked his central nervous system. Although his physical condition could be restored, his motor skills would not develop fully.
Seeing the reality which had struck down her ‘adopted child’, May admitted that she was depressed. Although, Micky was already two years old, his capabilities were very much limited compared to other orangutans the same age. It meant that there was little possibility for Micky to enjoy a normal life in the wild in his original habitat.
May’s love for orangutans and her closeness to all the ‘adopted children’ at Nyaru Menteng is clear to see when she plays with Suriyani (2), Julius (2.5) and Kahim (3). Suriyani who is mollycoddled always wishes to be carried by May.
“We began to nurse Suriyani since she was six months old. She came from a confiscation in Kuala Pembuang in the regency of Seruyan. When we first picked her up, Suriyani was afraid. Her condition wasn’t that good because she had always been kept in a cage,” said May. Now, entering her second year, Suriyani has become clever climbing trees.
May is happy when orangutans under her care begin to display progress in the behavior of wild orangutans. Climbing trees, searching for their own food and making nests and shelters from small branches and foliage are all skills orangutans need to survive in the wild.
Because of that, says May, after having the basic skills mentioned above, orangutans are ready to enter the last stage of their rehabilitation. On Palas, Kaja and Hampapak islands, they receive further lessons learning how to socialise in the wild.
“Here, step by step, they are allowed to live alone without assistance. This step is very important” said May. In the same manner as shown in the documentary film The Story of Rimba which ‘features’ May. She points out “the forest does not forgive the dwellers of tall trees who do not have the skills”.
When the orangutans who had become “her adopted children” are set free, May is sad and proud. “Sad because we have to part, but proud also. If we manage to release orangutans into the wild, it means that there is still forest left. Additionally, that forest will be protected” said May.
Source: http://www.kompas.co.id/kompas-cetak/0705/10/Sosok/3523227.htm
