♪♪♪ (Orangutans squealing
and grunting) ♪♪♪ (Kiss smacking) ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ FEMALE NARRATOR:
Every morning, a small riverside community
in Central Kalimantan, Borneo, rumbles to life. ♪♪♪ The commuters are caretakers and teachers
at a local school... ♪♪♪ Which happens to be one of
the most unusual in the world. It's called Nyaru Menteng. ♪♪♪ The lessons taught here aren't
in math or science, though. They're in survival. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ And the students
are orphaned orangutans. ♪♪♪ 7:00 a.m. marks the beginning
of the school day, and these students, aged from
two to eight years old, are anxious to get to class. ♪♪♪ (Door rattling) ♪♪♪ The teachers often wear masks to avoid passing on human germs
to their students. ♪♪♪ Three-year-old Madara
is in a hurry this morning, closely followed
by Mumut and Lala. Valentino is gate monitor. ♪♪♪ Meryl starts the day
with a tummy slide, and Kejora won't leave
without her comfort sack. These kids
in Elementary Groups 1 and 2 sometimes form a conga line
to get to class. ♪♪♪ Five-year-olds Cinta and Jumbo are first out
from the older gang. They all know the drill and tumble out
in a furry orange avalanche. ♪♪♪ Morning assembly is a chance
to catch up with their buddies, as these orphans have very deep
bonds with each other. (Orangutan squeaking) Three-year-olds
Yutris and Madara were both rescued as orphans
at just a few months old. (Orangutan squeaks) If their mums had survived, they both would have been
suckled and carried for the first years
of their lives and stayed with their mothers
until they were around eight, because there is so much
to learn. Orangutan infants
have a long dependency on their mothers,
like humans do. These youngsters should all still be living
with their mothers. But as forests in Borneo
are decimated and adult orangutans killed by plantation owners
and poachers, this species
is on the brink of extinction. But these are the lucky ones, who have a chance
for a future in the wild. ♪♪♪ The Nyaru Menteng
Orangutan Jungle School began in 1999
with just a handful of orphans. Currently,
there are 68 in class, divided into five groups according to their age
and skills, and they follow
a well-honed curriculum. ♪♪♪ Groups 1 and 2 take class
close together, Group 3 is on its own, and Groups 4 and 5
head deep into the jungle. (Teachers calling out
in native language) Three-year-olds
Valentino and Yutris know which teacher to follow and head off with their mates
to Group 1. Everyone pairs up
with their buddy for the walk to class. (Orangutan squeaking) But in their neediest moments, hand-holding with their
specially trained babysitter is very popular. ♪♪♪ It's just a short walk
from the elementary dorms to the Group 1 and 2
classrooms. ♪♪♪ (Teacher calling out) First lesson of the day
is "buah yo," or "fruit time." Orangutans naturally spend
up to six hours a day foraging for food, so breakfast doubles as
a perfect learning opportunity. WOMAN:
Buah yo! Buah yo! NARRATOR:
This morning's lesson
is in coconut cracking. Orangutans learn from example, so their caregiver shows them
how it's done. ♪♪♪ Mumut, a little male,
catches on immediately, while Valentino has
a more interpretive approach. ♪♪♪ With his distinctive
pale belly stripe, Valentino is the class clown
of Forest School Group 1. ♪♪♪ What he lacks in technique, he makes up for in exuberance. ♪♪♪ But when the puzzle proves
too hard to crack, Valentino does exactly
what he would do if he was in the wild... (Orangutan squealing) Asks Mum for help. ♪♪♪ Valentino was found alone
in a forest as a baby after his mum was killed. Babysitter Leta is currently
his foster mother, and she knows Valentino must
learn to do this on his own if he's to ever graduate
from jungle school. ♪♪♪ Nearby, the students
of Forest Group 2 are incrementally
more skillful. It's not so much age
that divides Groups 1 and 2 but ability. Little Meryl has learned
how to husk her coconut so she can enjoy
the sweet milk. ♪♪♪ But not for long. Opportunistic Valentino
moves in to "share." ♪♪♪ He may not be the best
at coconut cracking, but learning how to reap the
rewards of others' hard work could be
an excellent survival skill. ♪♪♪ Three-year-old Beni
has a more laid-back approach. He's exercising his jaws as his powerful teeth
scrape the coconut shell. But there's not a lot
of other energy being exerted. He doesn't even flinch as Meryl
helps herself to his leftovers. Little does Beni know that his expanding girth
hasn't gone unnoticed and he's about to be put
on a diet. ♪♪♪ 300 feet
up the jungle boardwalk is Forest School 3, the orangutan equivalent
of middle school. ♪♪♪ The caregivers still teach
formal lessons here, but these students
are given more freedom to figure things out
on their own. Today the class visits
a small forest stream. And the pupils discover coconuts can come in quite
handy after a meal. You can drink from them... and even bathe with them. ♪♪♪ Three year-old Wibowo's
got this down except for that annoying drip
in his ear. ♪♪♪ There's nothing like
a good scrub to start the day. But this isn't
a natural behavior. Like many of the orphans
in Forest School, Wibowo was kept
as an illegal pet. By the time he was rescued
at one year old, he had learned to mimic
his owners' behavior. Despite this unnatural start
in life, Wibowo's gift for copying
what he sees is an advantage. And when he turns four, he'll likely be promoted
to Group 4, the Jungle School equivalent
of junior high. ♪♪♪ Another 200 yards up the
boardwalk, the Group 4 and 5 classroom
appears strangely empty. (Orangutan warbling) But that's because learning
here happens higher up. ♪♪♪ Orangutans are the largest
tree-living species in the world. These four- to eight-year-olds
already weigh around 66 pounds, and adult males weigh
up to 300 pounds. ♪♪♪ They spend most of their lives
above ground as they forage for
the nearly 300 different fruits that make up the bulk
of their diet. These older students are truly on their way
to becoming wild. But then comes the call
they still love to hear. (Man and woman calling
in native language) ♪♪♪ It's milk time. ♪♪♪ They may be in junior high, but they still love to drink
their milk. ♪♪♪ In the wild,
orangutans can nurse until they're almost
eight years old, so these teenage orphans
can be quite demanding. ♪♪♪ Five-year-old Jumbo tries
to convince his babysitter that he's missed out. ♪♪♪ Can this face tell a lie? Has this mouth had milk in it? (Laughs) NARRATOR:
But irresistible as he is, babysitter Ursula
knows him too well. ♪♪♪ There's real affection
between her and Jumbo, but she won't always be
his caregiver. (Speaking
in native language) NARRATOR:
The staff rotate regularly
to avoid too much attachment, as the end goal is to prepare
all the orangutans for a life in the wild
on their own. ♪♪♪ For the youngest residents
of the Orangutan Jungle School, that day seems very far off. Just over a mile up the road is the Nyaru Menteng
Nursery School. ♪♪♪ This is where the youngest
orphans begin their journeys. ♪♪♪ Cuddling together
in these baskets takes the place
of their mums' arms at night. ♪♪♪ At 6:00 a.m., Rona has
a bad case of bed head. Mema is ready for anything. And Bawan and Napri
are good to go. ♪♪♪ Diapers are used overnight for the same reason
human babies wear them. And every morning starts
with a bottle. In the wild,
these 2- to 18-month-olds would be nursing numerous times
throughout the day and night. Here in the nursery, the infants drink
a special soy milk formula, which is better
for their digestive systems than cow's milk. ♪♪♪ These babies may be small, but they already have
big personalities. (Orangutan shrieking) There's enough formula
to go around, but Bumi wants
to dominate the bottle. Breakfast has got 11-month-old
Kalanis all fired up. ♪♪♪ A human baby of this age
wouldn't have as many teeth, but there's something similar about the game he plays
with his surrogate mum. ♪♪♪ Luckily, the school day
for the nursery kids is about to start. Time to get on the bus. ♪♪♪ These orphans have
no mother's back to cling to, but this does look
kind of cozy. ♪♪♪ The caretakers wheel Kalanis
and the others to class, where they're divided
into two main groups. Jelepat and Talakan go
to the Biggies group for one- to two-year-olds. ♪♪♪ And then there's the Littlies
for those younger than one. ♪♪♪ Despite their young age, many of these babies have
already faced extreme hardship. ♪♪♪ Littlie student Bumi was found
in a forest clearing all alone. ♪♪♪ He was less than two weeks old. ♪♪♪ Video shot by his rescuers
reveals a helpless infant... With the stub of his
umbilical cord still attached. It's likely his mother had been
killed by a poacher. ♪♪♪ But thanks to the care
he's received here, he's now thriving
at 11 months old. ♪♪♪ Jelapat,
who's in the Biggies group, was rescued when he was one. ♪♪♪ Photographs show how he was
found living in a doll house, dressed in a onesie,
desperate for contact. His owner intended to illegally smuggle him out
of the country on a coal ship and sell him to a private buyer
for about $150 USD. Rescuers stepped in
just in time, and Jelapat was saved. Now, at two years old, Jelapat even has
his first girlfriend. 18-month-old Talaken and
Jelapat are inseparable... until it comes to fruit time. WOMAN:
Buah yo, buah yo! NARRATOR:
Planting fruit
in hanging baskets promotes searching for food
in the trees. ♪♪♪ Despite their young age, Jelapat and Talaken
are already fearless climbers. ♪♪♪ Today's meal consists
of yellow santols and green oranges. These soft fruits are much
easier to open than coconuts but still provide a challenge
for the youngsters. Talaken is having
a bit of trouble. So she improvises. ♪♪♪ High in a tree nearby, a swarm of tiny bees protects
its honey-filled hive. (Bees buzzing) Moci is encouraged
to investigate. (Moci squealing) But he seems reluctant. Senior supervisor Muliyono
knows just what to do. ♪♪♪ A dab of honey water
is the perfect bait. ♪♪♪ The honey water is delicious. But Moci needs to learn
to access the honey hidden inside the tree. ♪♪♪ Talaken gives it a try, but her finger is just too big. ♪♪♪ Fortunately,
these tiny bees are stingless, so her intrusion doesn't
provoke an attack. ♪♪♪ Muliyono takes the lesson
to the next level by introducing a tool. ♪♪♪ Orangutans are one of
the most inventive tool users in the animal kingdom, and these baby students
are clearly fascinated. But they're still
a little way off from mastering Tool Use 101. (Bees buzzing) ♪♪♪ If all the students
at Orangutan Jungle School master their skills
at every stage, when they turn eight years old, they'll face their biggest
and most important challenge, the final stepping stone
into the wild. ♪♪♪ Not far from Nyaru Menteng is a vital outpost
on the Rungan River. It's a security station
manned 24 hours a day, because upriver lies something
very valuable: the future of the Borneo
orangutan population. ♪♪♪ Today, Nyaru Menteng staff
called teknisi are preparing to deliver
a care package to some remote islands
in the river. ♪♪♪ These are known
as pre-release islands, the last stage
of Orangutan Jungle School. Here, teenage students learn to live
truly independent lives, the final preparation
for their return to the wild. ♪♪♪ Currently, the islands
provide sanctuary for 126 potential
release candidates amongst a jungle
with an uncertain future. ♪♪♪ In the last 20 years, the ever-expanding timber
and palm oil industries have destroyed over 50%
of Borneo's rainforests. It's this deforestation,
slash-and-burn agriculture, and poaching
that have led to the need for an orangutan jungle school
to exist at all. (Man calling out) MAN:
Buah yo! NARRATOR:
The familiar call
for fruit time rings out. MAN:
Buah buah yo! Buah yo! NARRATOR:
And on the edge
of Bangamat Island, orangutans begin to gather on one of several
feeding platforms. MAN:
Buah buah yo! Yo!
Yo! NARRATOR:
The fruit delivery comes daily, but it's just a supplement
to the food these older orangutans
forage for in the jungle on their own. MAN: Buah buah yo! NARRATOR:
Fina is becoming wilder and prefers to eat her booty
in the trees. MAN: Buah yo! Buah buah yo! Buah yo! NARRATOR:
But Bruni chooses the platform along with Ping and Lupu. MAN: Buah yo! NARRATOR:
The three females
are soon joined by 13-year-old Jaka, a big, dominant male
here on Bangamat Island who uses his status to get
the best seat at the table. (Jaka grunting) In the wild, adult males
live solitary lives and would never sit and eat with a group of females
like this. These orangutans
won't be fully grown adults till they're
around 15 years old. But this peaceful food sharing
is a testament to the bonds they've forged
growing up together as orphans. ♪♪♪ Rowo, another of
the older females here, arrives and seems hesitant, but Jaka signals
that she can join in. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ In the canopy above, female Kadik doesn't seem happy
to be left out of lunch. (Kadik grunting and chirping) Her kiss squeaks
may sound cute, but they're actually a sign
of agitation. ♪♪♪ Jaka takes little notice, so Kadik leaf-wipes her eyes. It's a known sign of
frustration for orangutans. Rescued when she was 3 1/2, Kadik was too wild
to go to jungle school, so she missed out on bonding
with her island-mates when she was younger. Now she's reluctant to join
the others on the platform, but this may not be
a bad thing. The teknisis watch her closely. At each visit, they monitor
the orangutans' behavior. Since 2012, over 250 orangutans have been chosen
from these islands to be released back
into protected areas of true wilderness. In the wild, orangutans are
considered semi-solitary apes, unlike their highly social
cousins the chimpanzees. Adults
rarely spend time together unless they're mating
or females, who occasionally hang out
with related females. Kadik and the other
pre-release students must figure out
this specific hierarchy on their own,
as they would in the wild after they leave their mothers. Kadik, avoiding conflict
and being opportunistic, shows that she's already
on the right track. Rowo's still hungry, but she's got
better table manners. ♪♪♪ She pulls the branch to her
like fruit kebab sticks she learned to forage with
in jungle school. ♪♪♪ The teknisis' observations
of these orangutans will help determine
who will be chosen next to be released into the wild. ♪♪♪ Over at Forest Groups 1 and 2, foraging lessons
are getting creative. ♪♪♪ The caregivers craft
a giant fruit kebab just like the ones Rowo had
when she was in school. Once fully loaded, they'll hold it up high
in the trees. But sneaky Valentino's got
other ideas. (Speaking
in native language) (Laughs) NARRATOR:
He's a such a little thief. But he and his classmates are going to have to learn
to climb for their food. ♪♪♪ The babysitters
don't make it easy. It may seem like a cruel game, but moving the kebab
back and forth prepares the youngsters
to forage in swaying forest canopies
over 150 feet off the ground. ♪♪♪ Suci is the first to nab
some of the swaying bounty. ♪♪♪ (Orangutan whimpering) Timpah seems perplexed
and can't quite figure it out. ♪♪♪ At last, Valentino decides
to enter the game. ♪♪♪ There's nothing wrong
with his reach... (Orangutans whining) But his timing is a bit off. ♪♪♪ Pushy classmates
don't make matters easier. ♪♪♪ He watches Madara snag
some kebab booty. ♪♪♪ Now, that's just rude. It's the last straw
for Valentino. He seeks out a shorter route
to the fruit. (Laughs) NARRATOR:
But there's no getting around
his babysitter. He needs to learn the right way
to get the fruit, and he's falling behind
his classmates. (Orangutan shrieking) ♪♪♪ Bald-headed, big-eyed Yutris shows little interest
in the fruit kebab lesson. ♪♪♪ Instead of joining
his classmates, he heads off into the canopy
alone. ♪♪♪ But this is one time
when ditching school is a good thing. Yutris is actually foraging
for leaves on his own. ♪♪♪ Even at this early stage
of Forest School, he's applying his lessons
on how to live in the wild. ♪♪♪ If he can keep this up,
little Yutris could soon be promoted
to Forest School Group 2. ♪♪♪ Meryl seems like
she's on a mission as well. (Leaves rustling) When you spend most of
your life in the trees, you've got to practice
everything. ♪♪♪ But she hasn't quite grasped
that going to the bathroom is one thing
that's probably better done while not hanging upside down. ♪♪♪ Back at Nyaru Menteng,
there's an emergency arrival. ♪♪♪ An 11-year-old female
has been brought back from one of
the pre-release islands. Clara was a clever student, one of the first chosen
from her group to go to a pre-release island. She'd been living there
for just eight months when she gave birth
to a baby girl. Wild orangutans
don't usually give birth until they're
around 14 years old. As a precaution
on the crowded island, Clara had been given
a contraceptive implant. But little did they know
when they transferred her, she was already pregnant. In a bizarre turn of events, Clara's one-week-old infant
was snatched from her by a dominant male
on the island. He treated the newborn gently
but wouldn't give her back. After three days, the teknisi
had to tranquilize him to retrieve the infant, which they brought back
to the nursery. ♪♪♪ Soon the vets will attempt
to reunite mother and daughter. But there's no guarantee
it will work. ♪♪♪ Over at Forest School Group 3,
by the stream, an older student from Group 5
is playing hooky to join the younger kids. But her actions
are very unexpected. Nine-year-old Rinto is one of the oldest females
in Jungle School, and it seems as if
she's practicing parenting. ♪♪♪ It's possible she has memories
of her own mother. And little Kejora appears
to be happy to play Rinto's baby
for the day. ♪♪♪ While surrogate parenting
and even friendship rarely happen in the wild, at Nyaru Menteng, these bonds can provide
comfort and security as the students progress
through Forest School together. ♪♪♪ But sometimes, as with humans, one individual can be
a bit too domineering. ♪♪♪ Darril and Liti
have been inseparable for some months now. ♪♪♪ The much larger Darril
seems quite possessive of his little girlfriend. ♪♪♪ (Orangutan squealing) So when Liti spies others
playing on the jungle gym and wants to join them, it's surprising
that Darril doesn't object. Liti plants herself
right in the middle. ♪♪♪ (Liti squealing) But Darril's jealousy
quickly kicks in. ♪♪♪ He decides enough is enough. ♪♪♪ It's clear he's in charge. There'll be no fun and games
without him. What's not clear is how long
Liti will put up with it. ♪♪♪ As the school day draws
to a close, Jumbo, Beni,
and all their classmates retrace their steps back
toward their sleeping cages. ♪♪♪ At nursery school, the wheelbarrow school bus
rolls out... ♪♪♪ (Teachers calling out) While class clown Valentino
remains true to form as the Forest School kids
frolic home. ♪♪♪ It's not time for bed yet,
though. Every day after school, there's a final recess
in the playground. ♪♪♪ This is where students from
all of the groups mingle... ♪♪♪ And let off some steam. ♪♪♪ Most of the play
is harmless fun. But, like all school yards,
there's the occasional bully. (Orangutan whining) Four-year-old Yoko wants three-year-old
Madara's coconut, but the youngster's
not giving it up. ♪♪♪ Valentino's had a difficult day
at school. He couldn't open his coconut, and he couldn't get
at the fruit kebab. He's at risk of falling behind. But now,
while his classmates play, he practices his tool use. ♪♪♪ And his persistence
finally pays off with sweet honey water
hidden inside the balance beam. ♪♪♪ This is a big step forward
for little Valentino. Maybe the class clown's future
will be bright after all. ♪♪♪ Meryl is exhausted, and finally it's time for bed. Beni, Lala, and Valentino,
with his security sack, tumble into their dorm. ♪♪♪ But there's always one
who fights bedtime. (Orangutan squealing) Jumbo's not quite ready
for sleep yet. ♪♪♪ Over at Nursery School,
the babies are diapered up and ready
for their nightly ritual. ♪♪♪ Watermelon is a favorite treat after an exhausting day
of learning. ♪♪♪ No food goes to waste here. When her watermelon is gone,
Rona uses her leftover juice to ensure her hair stays
just as she likes it. ♪♪♪ Most of the babies
are ready for bed in their laundry baskets, but there's one youngster who hopefully won't be sleeping
in the baby house tonight. Outside, vet Agus arrives
on a critical mission. It's been almost a week since baby Clarita was
separated from her mother, and Agus is anxious
to reintroduce her back where she belongs. ♪♪♪ (Speaking in native language) NARRATOR:
But first he must assess her, as she's suffering
from a blistering rash caused by the sap
of a rainforest tree. ♪♪♪ Clarita could have contracted
the rash from sap on her mother's hair or from the male
who kidnapped her and held her tight
for three days with no food. She's been fed formula but needs her mother's milk
and comfort. ♪♪♪ Clarita has survived
a horrifying ordeal, but the ultimate test
is yet to come. Many animals
reject their offspring if they spend any time
away from the parents... ♪♪♪ So success
is far from guaranteed. ♪♪♪ In preparation
for Clarita's arrival, Clara has been moved to a cage
right outside the clinic, where she and her infant
can be closely monitored. But no one knows
if she'll accept little Clarita back into her arms. ♪♪♪ This is such a crucial moment. (People talking) If Clara rejects her baby, Clarita will become
the newest orphan of the Orangutan Jungle School.
