Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre

The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre was established in 1964 to return orphaned "apes back to the wild. The centre was being administered by the wildlife section of the Forestry Department which in 1988 was upgraded as a department under the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Development. All administration and management was given to the new Wildlife Department of Sabah.

The objectives of the project have expanded in recent years. While Orangutan rehabilita­tion is stilt the primary goal at Sepilok, present aims include public education on conservation, research and assistance to other endangered species such as captive breeding of the rare and endangered rhinoceros.

This centre is now under the supervision of more than 37 staff, including a Wildlife Officer who is also officer-in-charge of the centre, a veterinary doctor, wildlife rangers and general workers.

The centre has a reception centre, information centre, offices for wildlife staff, an animal clinic, quarantine area and enclosures for various animals such as the rhinoceros.

Sepilok, renowned for its orangutan rehabilitation project, has stimulated a greater local and international awareness of the protection laws for endangered species, and the Centre has resulted in an increase in detection and confiscation of illegally held captive animals.

When a young orang utan is orphaned or kept as a pet, it is unable to live in its natural habitat on its own; much of its survival depends on accquired skills, which the young orang utan gets from its mother in its first five to six years of life. At the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre orphaned or pet orang utans are trained to live an independent life in their natural habitat. This process can be quite long, and includes a "kindergarten," enclosed and controlled areas, and in its last stage the open forest reserve in Sepilok, where the orang utans are free-roaming. It is in this forest reserve where visitors get a chance to see the orang utans. The best time to view them is during feeding times at 10 a.m, and at 2.30 p.m, at the feeding plat-form. At other times access to the reserve is restricted to minimise disturbance of the apes. The trail to the feeding plat-form is a plank-walkway suitable for all visitors, and on the way you can marvel at huge and rare rainforest trees. If you observe the canopy closely, you will find orang utan nests, and with some luck a curious ape will meet you on the way to the platform. Please do under no circumstances touch the animals, and be aware of the naughty pig and long-tail macaques. Leave your bag, inclusive handphone, cigarettes and mosquito repellent at the reception, where you have to pay entrance and camera / video fees.

After the feeding of the orang utan it is recommended that you head for the video presentation at the visitor centre. The short film explains in detail the philosophy of the rehabilitation, and the importance of the work of the rangers of Sepilok.