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At what point does a recently graduated 'creative' realise that they're about to embark upon a childhood dream? Booking the project - apprehensive with an undertone of anticipation. Booking the flights, for someone who struggles to set dates for a casual coffee, the commitment was quite the accomplishment. Insurance just seemed an expensive necessity, and the jabs, well, I'm a dead arm (and a few hundred) worse off. So where then, amongst all the bewildering organisation, may I find that excitement that comes from flying half way around the world to spend eight weeks working with orphaned orang-utans?
On October 23rd, I'll be (gladly) leaving (an inevitably soggy) London runway to step off in monsoon seasoned Malaysia. With a few hours to excessively soak myself in insect repellent, an internal flight to Kota Kinabalu, and a half hour taxi ride later, I'll be dropped deep into Kabili-Sepilok, one of Borneo's most uncompromising rainforests. For two months, this, or more precisely, the famous Sepolik Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, is where I shall call home.
I understand to most this sounds less than desirable circumstances but I assure you, for me it is. Under all the pretence and nerves, I do not doubt this journey will be one of a lifetime. That moment when I find myself looking deep into the eyes of a baby orang-utan as we study each other's faces, I shall see what it truly means to realise a dream. I long for the excitement to kick in, and boy when it does it will be a cross-your-legs-to-hold-it-in occasion! I can depict their beauty and awe-inspiring design with such enthusiasm; I was born with a passion for these gentle creatures, and alongside I, it has grown.
The work I'll be participating in comes as a result of their endangerment, sadly the consequence of man and consumerism. Deforestation is increasing at such an alarming rate as the industry for palm-oil is booming, the devastating fact is, if the orang-utan's home continues to be ripped down at this rate (for the sake of one less wrinkle in our pampering routines) then they will become extinct within ten years! Alongside the stolen homes, many adult orang-utans are illegally traded and killed, leaving the venerable orphans to a life of captivity or die. This is why organisations such as the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre, founded in 1964, are in place to give the rescued apes a second chance.
Orang-utans (meaning man of the forest) share over 96% of the same genes as humans, which leads you to understand why through infancy learn the same skills and require the same love and attention as human children. As one of the lucky, rescued orang-utans bought into the centre, they will be nursed to health and introduced to a (typically 6-8 years long) program building the skills and confidence they would have naturally developed from the 24hour attention from their mothers in their natural habitat. The orang-utans will advance through the different schooling groups when they are strong and able enough, with the ultimate goal of releasing them back into the wild. The indoor nursery provides care for the infants from just months old up to four years, where they will look upon me for the attention and affections of their mother. Advancing to the outdoor nursery, the juveniles between five and eight years reside in the enclosed forest area, learning through play and sharing of skills through attentively copying each other. Contact here is kept to a minimum to wean them off the dependency of humans. In addition, I will also be throwing on my best combat gear as I trek deep into the jungle alongside the snakes and leaches for a field survey accounting for the released orang-utans.
Here's another fun fact for you - an adult male orang-utan grows to be 7 times stronger than the average man... so my hopes of Clint Eastwood style wrestling matches with these weedy arms are rather in the mist... I do however very much intend on keeping you updated on every mozzie bite and peed on incidents, but for now, I must sign off hoping the wounds of my sorely emptied wallet will soon heal alongside my vaccinations, (gee will it all be worth it!) and let the anticipation build...!
Thanks and congrats for keeping with the mumblings of a Morley.
- comments
Courtney Mingin Blossom xx This made me cry!! I'm so happy for you and so proud of you for all your achievements over the past few yes. You have been so brave and I am so so so so happy that you are finally making a life long dream (23yrs long) come true. I have never known a day that you haven't dreamt of this trip!! I wish you every bit of luck, laughter and enjoyment. I will be praying for your health and safety and happiness when you are out there. I look forward to many more blogs such as this!! Love youuuuuu Morley xxxxxxx
Mum Morley Well! Wonderful to know the Borneo Dream will come true - and soon. Just don't go 'over the top' and end up fresh meat for some carnivore .. Can hear you now, as a Mum to a youngster Orang. " don't be one of the herd" & "how did you distinguish yourself today?".. Very proud of you and you are only just out of Uni! Biglove, always, Mum X.