Once again, I am appalled after reading about an orang-utan in Sabah which is being mistreated by those who should be helping rehabilitate him.  After years of ‘rehabilitation’, (in this case meaning being exploited in a hotel, performing in zoo acts, and tourist shows), it seems he will be released into the Sepilok-Kabili National Forest to continue being used as a lure for tourists.

How do they expect a fully habituated orang-utan to instantly learn foraging and nesting skills when he was never given the opportunity to do these things while being ‘rehabilitated’? He should have been given the tools to learn how to live in the forest while young instead of being exploited for tourism profit.

Not to mention, he will be fully susceptible to catching diseases from the humans that would come to see him, as well as liable to give any disease he might have back to them, since Mowgli is habituated to humans and may well come into contact with them.

The article by Friends of the Orangutans also mentioned the Sabah Wildlife Department has refused to inform them about another orang-utan which was reportedly going to be released into the Sepilok forest. Why does the Sabah Wildlife Department want to release another orang-utan into Sepilok? It’s all about the money, isn’t it? I really urge the department to reconsider moving Mowgli there simply because I don’t want him to be misplaced, too.

I find it truly deplorable that Malaysia would allow this kind of treatment to any of its native animals, let alone the iconic orang-utan whose numbers are steadily declining. The Sabah Wildlife Department could set a great example by allowing Mowgli to retire from entertainment and live where he gets care and daily enrichment to make his life more comfortable.