by Jack Dalton, the Kid Conservationist.
A few weeks ago, I took a trip to The Center for Great Apes, the only accredited orangutan sanctuary in North America. They care for over 60 chimpanzees and orangutans who can no longer be released into the wild. Each of these apes has their own story for their place at the sanctuary, many of which are tragic. From being trapped in a tiny garage cage for over a decade, without ever seeing the sun, to having been trained in the circus to behave as humans rather than what they are, these apes come from backgrounds that mean they lack the skills to survive in their natural habitat. The Center for Great Apes provides a sanctuary where these apes get a second chance at living the lives they deserve.
Jack under one of the many elevated walkways at the sanctuary
I had the opportunity to visit this special place and even got to meet many of the orangutan and chimp residents. We started our tour by watching a fascinating and emotional video that shares the stories of a few apes at the sanctuary (it’s a really interesting video, check it out if you have a few minutes). From there, we got to take a guided walk around the sanctuary. As you go down the path, you go beneath elevated bridges, which are actually designed for the apes. The caretakers are able to open and close certain doors on these pathways which allow for the apes to have more choice in where they go and what they do. This also simulates the climbing and exploration that a wild ape might have access to, just in this safer environment. It brought me so much joy to see that these apes, who have no chance at living in the wild, are able to have more control over where they go and what they do.
The first two orangutans, Hanna and Pumpkin we met were very special. They sat in the walkway far above us, and as we began to approach them, they looked down, making eye contact with us. Pumpkin, the lady who was sitting farther away, started to move closer, before sitting down again to examine us. Looking into her eyes reminded me that these apes are so much like us humans in curiosity and mind. That’s why we need to respect them and their livelihoods, rather than forcing them to entertain.
Also in company was my cousin TJ, who despite claiming his favorite ape was a gorilla, was convinced into joining the adventure. One orangutan in particular, Chuckie, was very fond of TJ. Chuckie’s eyes watched his every motion, he playfully showed his teeth and stuck out his tongue at him, and even walked alongside TJ every time he moved. Although TJ was thrilled by his connection with Chuckie, in the end he said the chimps were his favorite because of their more upbeat and exciting vibe. He was most impressed by Marco, the 65 year old, extremely energetic chimp, who reminded us of our grandfather.
My favorite orangutans we met, though, were Cahaya and Sunshine. Cahaya, a baby at the sanctuary, was a young and curious ape. She is really so sweet, and reminded me a lot of the orangutan I first fell in love with, Rowan, as they were both around 5 years old when I last saw them. The interaction between the baby and her mother was also very sweet to see, especially for my mother, who didn’t hesitate to point out the similarities between the orangutan’s connection and ours.
Jack presents a check to the Center for Great Apes
I loved visiting The Center for Great Apes and getting to see orangutans again for the first time since seeing them in the wild in Indonesia, over two years ago. It’s a place that truly cares about the animals that live there. My interview with Patti Ragan, the founder, was one of the most heartfelt interviews I have had as The Kid Conservationist. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have visited, learned from the animals, and the staff, and now I get to make a Kid Conservationist video about these apes and relive the experience through the footage. I can’t wait to share with you all the final cut so you too can experience the sanctuary, and see what makes this a special spot, for humans and animals alike.