FEMALE NARRATOR:
It's going to be a busy day at the orangutan jungle school. Valentino and two buddies
are moving up to a new group, and he's got a bit of work
to do on his table manners. (Tense music) NARRATOR:
After a week apart,
baby Clarita has a chance to reunite with her mother, but will Clara
accept her infant back? And some lucky orangutans
on the pre-release islands are selected to return
to the wild. But during their capture,
all hell breaks loose... (Grunting) NARRATOR:
When an aggressive male
turns on the staff. (Grunting) (♪♪♪) (Chattering) (Upbeat music) (Squeaking) (Upbeat music) (Squeaking) (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
In a remote corner of Indonesia on the island of Borneo
where a river snakes through dense rainforest dawn reveals the orangutan
jungle school compound. (Driving music) NARRATOR:
All seems silent
at this early hour. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
But appearances
can be deceiving. (Chatter) NARRATOR:
The jungle surrounding
Nyaru Menteng is thick with thieves. (Chatter) NARRATOR:
Every morning,
troops of long-tailed macaques commence their raids. (Chattering) NARRATOR:
Adults and juveniles
patrol the perimeter. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
And when the coast is clear, the robbers pounce. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
These monkeys know
that orangutans drop food from their sleeping cages
during the night. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
So underneath,
the pickings are plentiful. Other scoundrels approach
from above. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
And steal the orangutans' food
from right under their noses. (Chatter) NARRATOR:
Soon, things ramp up
for the school day. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Sleeping cages are opened, and the pupils spill out,
eager to start their day. (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
The Group 1 kids head towards
their outdoor classroom. But this morning,
three of their classmates have been held back. (Blows a raspberry) NARRATOR:
This is a big day
for Valentino, Madara, and Yutris. (♪♪♪) (Blows a raspberry) NARRATOR:
These three little males
are graduating. They're moving up to Group 2. But for now,
all the boys know is that they're being
left behind. And they're not happy. (Whining) NARRATOR:
Class clown Valentino, with his distinctive
white belly stripe seems annoyed to be left out. (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
But when their babysitter
finally arrives, the bravado vanishes. (Gentle piano music) (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
All three know something's up. They support each other during
this scary break from routine as their caretaker leads them
to a new forest school group. Madara and Yutris provide
maximum comfort for each other while clingy Valentino
insists on being carried. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
These three little males
have been classmates since Valentino was found
alone in a forest as a baby over two years ago. And Yutris and Madara
were rescued around the same time
from being kept as illegal pets. Now the triple trouble
take the next stage of their journey together. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
But there's a long road ahead,
and success is by no means guaranteed. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Back at base,
in a small isolation cage outside the clinic,
life is also about to change for Clara. (Somber music) NARRATOR:
This new mother
was brought back from one of the pre-release
islands yesterday. After giving birth
just two weeks ago, her infant, Clarita,
was kidnapped by a curious male orangutan. (Engine humming) NARRATOR:
Quick action by the local staff
saved the infant from harm, and she was brought back
to the Nursery. Now Clara has a chance
to reunite with her baby, but, after several days apart,
there's a real danger that Clara could reject her, which means Clarita
would grow up as an orphan. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Both mother and infant
are suffering from a painful rash
caused by sap from one
of the rainforest trees. (Speaking foreign language) (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Clara recognizes
her baby instantly, but the staff
won't take any chances. (Gentle music) NARRATOR:
They must be sure
before they allow the precious infant
back into her mother's arms. (♪♪♪) (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
Clara's gentle response
prompts the decision to risk the moment of truth. (♪♪♪) (Speaking foreign language) (Gentle music) NARRATOR:
It can't be too soon
for the impatient mother. (♪♪♪) (Speaking foreign language) (Gentle music) NARRATOR:
This is a heart-stopping moment
for everyone. (♪♪♪) (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
All Clara wants to do
is hold her baby close. (Speaking foreign language) (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Infant orangutans
spend 24 hours a day holding tight to mom
for at least the first four months. (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
So this separation
must have been deeply distressing
for both Clara and her baby. (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
But there's one more hurdle. (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
Can Clara still produce milk? (Gentle music) NARRATOR:
And will tiny Clarita
still be able to suckle? (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
It takes an anxious
few minutes... (Squeaking) (Gentle music) NARRATOR:
But then Clarita's cries
stop for the best of reasons as she takes her fill
of the ultimate comfort food. (♪♪♪) (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
These two can now heal
from their ordeal together. (Screeching) NARRATOR:
There's one orangutan
left behind from jungle school today, and he's not happy. Four year old Lanting
cut his hand on a sharp branch in his Group 3 class yesterday,
and, this morning, he has an appointment
at the medical center. (♪♪♪) (Chattering) NARRATOR:
Like any kind on a visit
to the doctor, Lanting seems to know
what's in store for him: shots. (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
Like human children,
orangutans can be accident prone. (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
Lanting gets
a light anesthetic so he's calm
during the procedure. (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
An injury like this in the wild
would probably heal on its own, but here, even a small cut
is treated with an antibiotic
to prevent infection. All these orphans
are considered too precious to risk any threat
to their future. (Machine beeping) NARRATOR:
Lanting receives
a few stitches, and he'll be watched closely
over the next few days to ensure
he's out of the woods. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Half a mile up the road
from the main compound, the Nursery School infants
are ready for their day. In the wild,
each infant orangutan would have its mother's
full attention, so 16 demanding orphans
make for mornings of controlled chaos. (Screeching) NARRATOR:
Hundreds of orphaned orangutans
have passed through this old house
in the 18 years since the project began. (Coughing) NARRATOR:
That's a lot of wear and tear. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
As the Nursery Group
heads out for the day, little do they know
they'll soon be leaving this crowded, old building
for good. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
They're moving to a new home. In a lush forest clearing
two miles west of the main compound,
a purpose built baby house is almost finished,
including a boardwalk to their outdoor classroom. It won't be long
before all 16 pre-schoolers are exploring
this jungle paradise. (Serene music) WOMAN:
(Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
Back at Forest Group 2,
it's morning milk time with three new mouths to feed. Madara, Yutris,
and Valentino have arrived. (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
Madara receives his share
enthusiastically... WOMAN:
(Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
While Yutris keeps
his distance. At two years old,
these youngsters would all still be suckling
from their moms in the wild. (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
But this soy milk formula
is the next best substitute. (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
Madara appears fascinated with his new friend
Lala's technique. WOMAN:
(Speaking foreign language) Madara, Madara? NARRATOR:
Valentino initially hangs back, then decides to make
a grand entrance. (Chattering) (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Although his manners
might not make him any friends. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Yutris has kept apart
from his new classmates so far. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
A coconut might help him
feel at home. But as a Group 2 student,
he has to figure out how to open it on his own. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Is anyone available to help? (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Meryl is always ready
to lend a hand, but she seems to think
the new kid in class should share. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Yutris gives up, and Meryl
sets about opening her prize. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
She looks for a stick to help and discovers tools
can be dangerous. (Squeaks) (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
While Yutris protects
another coconut from a monkey thief,
down below, Valentino has figured out
how to access his coconut. This is real progress for him, as back
when he was in Group 1, he asked his babysitter
for help. (Whining) (Tapping) Now Mumut tries out
his special stare in the vain hope
that Valentino will share. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Not a chance. (Somber music) NARRATOR:
With all the young students
out in their jungle classrooms, inside the clinic,
an important meeting is underway. The vet team is assessing
the orangutans living on the pre-release islands,
deciding which ones are ready for release
into the wild. This is the ultimate goal
for every student, and this report
is critical for all 126
eligible candidates. (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
Not even sharp teeth
will distract vet Agus from the task at hand. Agus:
Ow! (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
Munyon the civet has made
himself at home in the clinic since being rescued
from an illegal wildlife market. He was malnourished,
but the vet's toe isn't quite what he needs. The team makes
its final selection. 18 orangutans have been chosen, and now
the real challenge begins. (Chatter) NARRATOR:
Just over a mile
east of Nyaru Menteng, the Rungan River
flows through jungle, creating what are known
as the pre-release islands. This is the last stage
of jungle school, home to the 18 candidates
who've been chosen to graduate and move
to a protected wilderness. (Speaking foreign language) (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
But capturing them
to move them off the island is a complex operation. (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
The vets rendezvous
with the teknisi, who are responsible
for the island orangutans. (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
And a final briefing ensures
everyone is clear on who the candidates are. (Tense music) NARRATOR:
But this isn't
going to be easy. Those chosen have all shown
they've got what is takes to live independently
in the semi-wild environment of the pre-release islands, but the wilder they are,
the more challenging they will be to capture. Tranquilizing darts
are prepared. (Tense music) NARRATOR:
This is the safest way
to capture near-adult orangutans,
both for the apes and the team. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
But first,
they have to find them. (Motors humming) (Tense music) NARRATOR:
The team heads for Kaja Island. There are over 40 orangutans
living here, which is maximum capacity
and much more crowded than an orangutan
would experience in the wild. (Motors humming) (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
But today, the tree tops
and river bank seem strangely quiet. (Yells) NARRATOR:
The call for fruit usually
triggers a response. (Yells) NARRATOR:
Jungle school graduates
never forget it. (Yelling) NARRATOR:
A male is first to appear, and even at this distance,
the teknisi guys know their charges so well
they instantly recognize Bobon. (Yells) NARRATOR:
But unfortunately,
he's not on the list, nor are any of the others
who respond. (Yelling) (♪♪♪) (Yelling) (Light music) NARRATOR:
But just as they stop
to move on, someone else comes
to investigate the commotion. (Grunting) (Yells) (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
It's 15 year old Rebecca, and she is a candidate. (Tense music) MAN:
(Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
The specialist sniper
takes aim. MAN:
(Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
But Rebecca is off. (Serene music) NARRATOR:
Back at Nyaru Menteng,
there are others who will benefit
from Rebecca's capture. After 12 years
at orangutan jungle school, 15 year old Tingkir
is now too big for class, (♪♪♪) but he can't move
to the pre-release islands until space becomes available. (♪♪♪) In the meantime, it's not safe
for the younger orphans or the staff to interact
with adult orangutans, even if they've
been through school. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
It's a constant burden
for the staff here-- finding room
for the older orangutans who are ready to move on. Tingkir's wait is frustrating, but as least he has a chance
of freedom in his future. (Somber music) NARRATOR:
Hercules was already 12
when he was brought to Nyaru Menteng. He had been rescued
from a cage so small it left his hands
and feet crippled. Unable to climb and blind in one eye, Hercules has no hope
of surviving in the wild. He'll always be dependent
on the care and loving attention he gets
in this extraordinary facility. (Speaking foreign language) (Grunting) (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
The staff here have
become experts at keeping these highly intelligent apes
entertained in their cages. Every day, the enrichment team
invents new puzzles to challenge and intrigue
their charges based on the one thing
guaranteed to keep an orangutan's attention:
food. The specially prepared puzzles
roll out to the all
the waiting orangutans. Hanging wire baskets
outside the cages encourages dexterity. And treats of honey
have to be found by exploring with fingers. (Grunting) (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
Hercules gets his own basket
to encourage him to use his deformed fingers. (Light music) NARRATOR:
Some orangutans
waiting for island release share a larger enclosure, and they get
a different challenge. This may seem like teasing,
and the loud kiss squeaks of frustration show
some of these students agree. (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
But when it's their turn
for release, they'll have to feed themselves
while hanging precariously high in the forest where food
will often be difficult to reach. (♪♪♪) Tingkir has to get
his treats out without dropping the barrel. (Light music) NARRATOR:
He's dexterous... (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
But even
the smartest orangutans fail sometimes. Fortunately, this place
is all about second chances. Teenage girl pals
Tulia and Zalipa keep each other company
while they wait for their transfer
to a pre-release island. They found their own way
to amuse themselves. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Cage fishing. Zalipa's determined
the macaques won't get all the leftovers today. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Encouraged
by her roommate's success, 12 year old Tulia decides
she can improve on the simple stick. She carefully lowers a piece
of string that she's extracted from one of her nesting sacks. It's fairly effective, but not as accurate
as she'd like. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
So she creates a loop
in the string. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
It's a remarkable display
of tool use. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Zalipa still prefers her stick, but Tulia demonstrates
her catch wasn't a fluke by doing it again. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Over at the Nursery School,
the infants are at the very start
of their journey that will one day lead
to the pre-release islands. Bumi is in the "Littlies" class where he and his classmate,
Rona, develop the confidence to learn and explore. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Mema prefers cuddles
from her babysitter while Jengyas and Ucup
comfort each other. Kalanis is fine on his own. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Tiny Ucup is almost
the same age as 2 year old Jengyos. They started school
only 10 days apart, and they've been
best buddies ever since. Jacqui considerately
keeps her distance for her bathroom break. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
As with all primates,
play and socialization are an important part
of the timetable for these toddler apes. (Squeaking) (Light music) NARRATOR:
But they also need
to start learning about all the different
food sources in the forest, and Mema's babysitter Kummi
spies a perfect opportunity. (Gentle music) NARRATOR:
Termites and ants are
an important protein source for orangutans,
especially when other foods are scarce. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
But Mema is clearly
not convinced. (Speaking foreign language) (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
In the wild, she would witness
her mother eat them and then copy, but that's a step too far
for babysitter Kummi, dedicated as she is. She has another plan
for her little student. (Light music) NARRATOR:
Ant eggs are
an orangutan delicacy. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Mema is keen to learn
and pays close attention to the secrets inside
a rotten log. (Light music) NARRATOR:
This is much less scary. (Gentle music) NARRATOR:
And then she knows
just what to do. She eats the eggs. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
But she's not yet a fan
of the ants. (Squeaks) (Driving music) NARRATOR:
Back on Kaja Island,
the capture team is still in pursuit of Rebecca, one of the candidates
for wild release. (Yelling) (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
She's high in the trees,
but curious. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
At last the marksman
has a clear shot. (Tense music) (Yells) NARRATOR:
Before the sedative kicks in,
the team hopes a juicy watermelon
will encourage Rebecca down to ground level. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
They don't want her to fall. She's tempted... (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
But she seems to know
something's up, and so she climbs higher. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
The treetops are usually
the safest place for wild orangutans, but not for an orangutan
who's been sedated. It will be an anxious wait while the drug takes
full effect. At Littlies class
at Nursery School, it's time for Kummi and Mema
to show the others the results of today's jungle lesson. Just like human infants,
these youngsters learn by observing and copying. (Gentle music) NARRATOR:
While the youngest classmates,
Bumi and Jacqui, watch from the safety
of the hammock, Mema demonstrates
to her classmates her brand new skill. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Jengyos is fascinated
while Ucup is happy to just watch. (Gentle music) NARRATOR:
These Nursery School Littlies
are learning an essential lesson today. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
But there's always one kid
with a limited attention span. (Gentle music) (Tense music) NARRATOR:
On Kaja Island, tension mounts as Rebecca loses consciousness. The team quickly maneuvers
into position with a net to break her fall. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Rebecca hangs on precariously,
and one of her friends comes to investigate. (Speaking foreign language) (♪♪♪) (Yelling) (♪♪♪) (Speaking foreign language) (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
They quickly check her
for injury. (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
But the net appears to have
broken her fall perfectly. And drowsy Rebecca
is quickly stowed aboard for her trip
back to Nyaru Menteng. (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
She has two months
of quarantine and health checks ahead,
but, if all goes well, she will then
complete her journey to a new life in the wild. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Rebecca is just the first
of 18 orangutans chosen for release. (Motor hums) NARRATOR:
And the team only has two days
to capture them. Next, they relocate
two miles upriver to Bangamat Island. (♪♪♪) MAN:
(Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
This time, they have
an audience as they approach the riverbank. (Speaking foreign language) (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
The teknisi team
recognizes Rutan, a 15 year old female. She's had 11 years
at jungle school and around three more
on Bangamat Island. Now she's ready to fend
for herself. (Tense music) NARRATOR:
Rutan keeps her distance, but all the expert sniper needs
is a clear shot. (Yelps) (Squeaking) (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Rutan pulls the dart out,
but it's too late. The tranquilizer
is already working, and she'll soon start
to feel drowsy. The team must keep her
in sight while they prepare for her inevitable fall. (Tense music) (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
But as the drug
takes full effect, things go horribly wrong. Rutan's arm is caught
on a branch, leaving her suspended
130 feet above the ground. They have to get her down
immediately, and there's only one way
to do that. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Fortunately, these guys
are experts. (Tense music) (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
Female orangutans reach only
half the weight of adult males, but there's still
about 80 pounds of orangutan to get safely to the ground. (Tense music) NARRATOR:
A carefully tied harness
bears her weight. MAN:
(Speaking foreign language) (♪♪♪) (Speaking foreign language) NARRATOR:
Now they need to get her
out of the forest before she starts to wake up. (Tense music) (Speaking foreign language) (♪♪♪) (Speaking foreign language) (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Two orangutans captured,
16 to go. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Soon the first boat
is on its way back to Nyaru Menteng
with its precious cargo. (Motor hums) (Dramatic music) (Upbeat music) NARRATOR:
With the school day done, the forest school groups
gather for their final snack on the lawn. (Squeaking) (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
The macaque monkeys are back. They know this is peak hour
for scavenging. (Grunting) NARRATOR:
One little macaque attracts three year old Meryl's
interest. She tries making friends
with him. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
She's one of the most
sociable orangutans in her class. (♪♪♪) (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
It's the abundance of food here
that makes these sorts of inter-species encounters
possible. (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
In the wild,
it's all about competition for resources. (Bright music) NARRATOR:
More leisure time can lead
to unusual friendships. (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
Suddenly Madara is getting
all the attention from Meryl's new friend. (Squeaking) (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
But she has a trick
to win him back. (♪♪♪) (Squeaking) (Bright music) NARRATOR:
The macaque seems bemused, but a friendship is born. (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
All the classes
hang out together during afternoon playtime. Six year old Barlian draws
a crowd of youngsters impressed by his coconut
opening technique. Once again,
three year old Meryl thinks he should share. Valentino finishes up
his day in the sandbox and immediately snatches
Malika's bamboo tube. (Light music) NARRATOR:
He plays with it in exactly
the same way a human kid would. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Lazy Beni's too busy snacking
to join in. Poor Malika makes the most
of her sand. But maybe Valentino
has a big heart after all. (Light music) NARRATOR:
Now there are two sand toys. (♪♪♪) (Gentle music) NARRATOR:
It's been a momentous day
for Clara and baby Clarita. (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
The mom has been holding her
infant close all afternoon as they renew their bond. (Squeaking) NARRATOR:
Clarita is exceptionally lucky. The fact that she has
her mother gives her a huge advantage
over the orphans here at jungle school. (Gentle music) NARRATOR:
Clara plays with her baby just
like a human mother would, leaving little doubt
that this bond is as strong as ever,
despite their dramatic ordeal. (Squeaking) (Gentle music) (Tense music) NARRATOR:
At Bangamat Island
in the Rungan River, the capture team still has work
to do before they lose light. They've just darted
15 year old Stuart. (♪♪♪) NARRATOR:
Stuart's been at jungle school
since he was orphaned as a one year old. Now he too has a chance
at living free in the wild. (Speaking foreign language) (Tense music) NARRATOR:
It's almost time
to head back to base, but then the eagle-eyed vet
spies Rowo, a 15 year old female
also on the candidate list. (Tense music) NARRATOR:
But she doesn't stick around, so the sniper decides
to follow her into the forest, and the vet scans the trees. (Tense music) NARRATOR:
Suddenly all hell breaks loose. (Yelling) NARRATOR:
It's Casper, a huge 16 year old male
known for his aggression. (Roars) (♪♪♪) (Grunts) (Somber music) (Yelling) NARRATOR:
The river is the only place
Casper can't follow the men, as orangutans generally
don't swim. But this 200-pound ape with the strength of seven men now holds the riverbank.
