Orangutans abroad and while traveling: are they dangerous, where do you encounter them, where can you see them?

What are orangutans?

• An orangutan is a species of great ape that lives mostly in trees.
• On Borneo, the apes live on the ground more often, probably because tigers do not occur there, one of the few enemies of orangutans other than humans.
• Orangutans are seriously threatened by habitat loss, but there are also numerous non-profit organizations active to protect the species from extinction.

Where to see orangutans in the wild abroad?

• Orangutans live only in Indonesia and Malaysia. In Indonesia, you can see orangutans on Sumatra and on Kalimantan (on Borneo). In Malaysia, you can encounter them in Sabah and Sarawak (on Borneo).
• The best places to see orangutans in the wild on Kalimantan are: Tanjung Puting National Park (Central Kalimantan), Kutai National Park (East Kalimantan), Gunung Palung National Park and Betung Kerihun National Park (West Kalimantan).
• The best places for orangutans on Sumatra are: Gunung Leuser National Park, Bukit Lawang (also nice without the orangutans, but very lively).
• The best places to see orangutans in the wild in Sabah are around the Kinabatangan River, one of the coolest places to see wildlife, and at Sepilok. Sepilok is a good place with a guaranteed orangutan sighting because here they are also rescued and released back into the wild.
• Other places include the Danum Valley (accessible spot), the Tabin Reserve, and the Deramakot Reserve. The best places to see orangutans in the wild in Sarawak are Batang Ai and the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.

How dangerous are orangutans?

• Generally, orangutans are not dangerous, unless they are actively threatened. The tricky part is that you don't always realize when they see you as a threat. They are just like people...
• In rare cases, a wild orangutan in a bad mood might get a fit and chase after a group of hikers. Those are the moments when you can really test how long it takes you to cover 100 meters in a jungle.
• In captivity, they can react unexpectedly and cause significant damage with their strength, claws, and sharp teeth.

Where can you do volunteer work or an internship with orangutans abroad?

• You can do volunteer work with orangutans at several rescue centers in both Indonesia and Malaysia.
• Sometimes there are internship opportunities for interns with the right background.