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Post by grizabella on Nov 11, 2012 7:37:54 GMT -5
It's Orangutan Caring Week, so I'm spreading the orange, hairy love.  First to grace our forum is the late Pusung, who was my first (non-human) ape friend. I visited him very often at Adelaide Zoo and he came to recognize me, which was very special to me. He passed away in 2009 and is greatly missed.  Pusung by panGH, on Flickr He was truly a gentle giant and inspired many people.  Gentle Pusung by panGH, on Flickr Currently living at Adelaide Zoo are Kluet, Karta and Puspa (who doesn't come out into the enclosure often so I've not yet seen her in person). Karta made the papers in 2009 when she escaped the enclosure by breaking the electric fence with a stick and making a ladder with which to climb out. She's expecting a baby at the end of the year- fingers crossed all will go well for her! www.blog.conservationark.org.au/index.php/entry/the-excitement-buildsIsn't she beautiful?!  Karta by panGH, on Flickr  Karta by panGH, on Flickr Here she's poking at the electric fence with a big stick. Karta's such an intelligent ale.  Back to her old tricks! by panGH, on Flickr Kluet arrived at the zoo in 2007 and boy, has he changed since then! 2008  Kluet! by panGH, on Flickr Such a goofball! ;D  Look what I can do!!! by panGH, on Flickr 2010  Kluet by panGH, on Flickr 2011  Kluet by panGH, on Flickr 2012  Kluet by panGH, on Flickr Orangutans and the forests they inhabit are disappearing at an alarming rate, and many suffer unbelievable cruelty at the hands of humans. There are many international sites about orangutans and their plight, but the website of The Orangutan Project (Australia) is a favourite of mine, so I'm sharing that one for anyone who'd like to know more. www.orangutan.org.au/ |
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Post by Gazinghound on Nov 13, 2012 4:07:01 GMT -5
I didn’t know orangs had their own week! How excellent! =) They’re definitely one of my favorite primate species…and I’m rather partial to their hair…;}
Rest peacefully, sweet Pusung…I can see how truly special you were.
Oh my, Karta, you are such a pretty thing! I just love that hair and those eyes. I have to wonder whether her offspring will be as curious, clever, tricky, and mischievous as she is, ehehehe!! XD Congratulations to her; hope it goes smoothly!
And what a clown Kluet is—he must be terribly amusing to everybody!
I couldn’t even imagine how it’s possible for someone to look at a creature so similar to ourselves, and treat them badly. And to lose them entirely would be an horrific tragedy…
Very nice site that is.
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Post by grizabella on Nov 13, 2012 6:20:49 GMT -5
Orangutans do have GREAT hair! The Sumatran ones have nicer hair in my opinion, more orange and fluffy than their Bornean cousins. I went to the zoo today to try and see the orangutans as part of their special week, but they were hiding the whole time I was there. I expect they were inside, where visitors can't see them, they've got access to that area as Karta might want to rest more than usual being so late in her pregnancy. Karta is a favourite of mine, she actually has a daughter in San Diego who is the spitting image of her! While I didn't get to see the hairy orange people, there was a great little display up for Orangutan Caring Week with examples of orangutan-friendly and orangutan-unfriendly items and info to read. I found out a lot about Karta's history which was really cool. Hoping so much that this birth will go well and she'll be able to raise the baby successfully with a little help from her keepers... fingers crossed! I haven't seen Kluet doing somersaults since he's grown up, maybe he's too busy with his woman for such silliness.  I think it's so important to save the great apes (as well as that they are amazing animals) because they help humans see themselves as part of the animal kingdom as they're so close to us. Some of the treatment they receive at our hands is nothing short of horrific- can't even mention it here or my forum'll probably get closed down for it! |
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Post by grizabella on Nov 13, 2012 6:26:18 GMT -5
I've always thought Hsiao Ning (born at Monkey World, now at a zoo in Germany) has fabulous hair.  Hsiao-ning by panGH, on Flickr She's a Bornean orangutan, Karta and Kluet are Sumatran. |
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Post by Gazinghound on Nov 25, 2012 4:44:12 GMT -5
Oh my, she DOES! I adore that color, it's like a purplish-deep red almost...reminds me a tad bit of the color of Irish Water Spaniels. They call it "puce liver," but describe it as having a slight purplish tint to it. Or maybe it's just my screen, but at any rate, I can tell she's gorgeous... Oh, that's interesting; I knew there were different varieties of orangutan, but little about the specific differences. It's truly dangerous for people to have so little empathy, especially for fellow creatures that are practically their next of kin.  I think that's exactly right; we need to see them and realize our true place in the circle of life--not get rid of them and maintain the delusion that we're a separate, vastly superior type of being that's disconnected from the other, "lower" animals. Too bad you didn't get to see the "hairy orange people" that day, hehe...but it sounds as though the appreciation-week events went over very well anyway. I don't blame Karta for wanting some peace and quiet! Hope she has all the luck in the world with her new baby...and that s/he is blessed with her good looks & smarts as well. ^^ Ha ha, oh, Kluet, you sly dog, you. |
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Post by grizabella on Nov 25, 2012 6:48:37 GMT -5
I can sort of see that purple tinge, she's got very dark red hair, not so much orangeness as her Sumatran cousins. I probably won't be going to visit the orangutans at the zoo until after Karta has her baby, it seems likely that she'll be enjoying staying in bed until that time- good for her! |
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Post by Gazinghound on Dec 1, 2012 4:54:56 GMT -5
=) Yeah, I was struck by what a deep, rich, true red it is, as opposed to the orange that you expect. (And I assume that’s the origin of the word “orangutan?”) Hope Karta enjoys getting her well-deserved rest and beauty sleep--plus, hopefully, some special treatment—for the rest of the pregnancy. ^-^
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Post by grizabella on Dec 1, 2012 6:24:31 GMT -5
Apparently 'orangutan' literally translates as 'person of the forest', which is quite apt. I'd always assumed that the name related to their fabulous orange hair, but it seems not! I visited Karta today and she is looking very pregnant indeed. She's due on the 11th, but the keeper I talked to said they think it could be any day really.  Karta by panGH, on Flickr  Karta by panGH, on Flickr |
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Post by Gazinghound on Dec 16, 2012 4:18:59 GMT -5
No kidding! Well, that is a very accurate description, but what a coincidence. I figured there had to be some connection between "orange" and "orangutan," but yeah, it seems the color was named after the fruit...no mention of the ape. Eeeee, how exciting!! They must be keeping an anxious eye on her constantly, waiting for it...especially when it gets closer, if it doesn't happen early! Oh, and every time I see these fuzzy, furry TY "Monstaz" toys in a store, the orange ones (Chester and Rufus) remind me of little orangs. ;D www.amazon.com/Monstaz-Chester-Plush-Toy-ORANGE/dp/B006WAHQ0E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1355800642&sr=8-2&keywords=monstaz+chester |
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debby
New Member
Posts: 5
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Post by debby on Jun 15, 2018 5:49:17 GMT -5
So interesting and such great pictures! Love it!
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I think that's exactly right; we need to see them and realize our true place in the circle of life--not get rid of them and maintain the delusion that we're a separate, vastly superior type of being that's disconnected from the other, "lower" animals. 