Recently, a five-member Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team - consisting of Faldo, Balan, Dandi, Yunus, and Welem - set off early into the forest for a day of patrolling. As our team members approached a main transect intersection, they spotted Signe with her baby and firstborn Bungaran. 

The team split into two groups: Faldo, Balan, and Dandi separated from Yunus and Welem to patrol along transect #12. Yunus and Welem stayed behind at transects #3 and #4 to observe Signe and her family. At the time, Signe and her offspring were seen in the company of a wild, male orangutan. They appeared at ease with this individual and were quite friendly toward him.

In the peaceful ambience of the forest, Yunus and Welem snuck around to look for the best, shaded vantage point for observations. The gentle sound of branches rubbing against each other in the breeze became the soundtrack of the day’s observations. Bungaran was preoccupied with spending most of his time in the forest canopy, leaving his mother and baby brother on the tree limb below with their new friend, enjoying forest fruit together. 

After eating a hearty breakfast, Signe took her baby up into the treetops to relax. The male orangutan remained in close proximity. Signe and her baby descended to the forest floor several times to drink water from a spring, not far from the tree they had been occupying. 

Just before sunset, Signe built a night nest and settled in with her baby. Observations ended at around 6 p.m. after our team was sure that Signe, her offspring, and their new friend had settled down for the night. It was very encouraging to see Signe’s family at ease with another friend in the Kehje Sewen Forest.

Text by: Nles Mamse PRM Team, Kehje Sewen Forest, East Kalimantan