Naru's Story

Date arrived at Sepilok Rehab Centre: 14th January 2004
Age on arrival: 8 months old
Sex & weight on arrival: Male 1.6kg

Naru was found by one of the workers in a local quarry at Pontian Orico after his mother had been attacked and frightened away by some wild dogs. His mother was so terrified she never returned to find her baby so the worker took Naru home with him and cared for him.

He bought dried milk to feed him on, disposable nappies to keep him clean and baby clothes to keep him warm. The worker loved Naru very much and was very proud keeping a baby orangutan and he insisted that Naru was taken to Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre. It is illegal to keep orangutan babies as pets and the owner knew Naru would have a far greater chance of being returned to the wild at Sepilok.

The worker took Naru, with his little suitcase of clothes, nappies and dried milk, to the Centre and was in tears when he had to hand him over to the rangers, but he knew in his heart it was a right thing to do for Naru's future.

Naru is approximately 3 years old weighs in at a healthy 12.kg. Naru loves his food and especially sugar cane but refuses nothing. He is a very handsome and strong young orangutan, but it has not been all plain sailing! When he was still very small he contracted Malaria which was dealt with quickly by a course of injections.

The January 2006 monsoons turned out to be one of the worst for a few years and brought heavy rains for weeks. Sepilok was several feet under water and the youngsters had to be confined to the indoor nursery to make sure they didn't catch a chill from the torrential rain. With the rains came the mosquitoes and unfortunately Naru went down with his second bout of this very unpleasant illness. We are pleased to say he has recovered well.

Naru likes nothing better than going out to play with his friends in the exercise enclosure. He is rapidly learning he must stand up for himself and is becoming more and more independent by the day. He is often seen play fighting with Rosalinda and Anekara, who are the largest members of the group.

Naru is a very good looking and an adorable orangutan, with big eyes and long lashes that any girl would die for. Despite his independent traits he is a well behaved youngster but he has a lot to learn before he can be released back into the forest. He needs to know how to make a nest and importantly hoe to find his next meal. It will be interesting to watch him develop.

(News extract from: Sepilok Rehab Centre)