A hot and balmy Monday saw Matang Wildlife Centre (MWC) come alive with groups of jungle cats, monkeys, gibbons, crocodiles and orangutans engaged in weird activities such as picking up drinking straws with their feet, measuring their hands and pulling faces in a mirror!

The ‘animals’ were in fact children (aged 10 to 12) from 2 local villages who were taking part in ‘The Magical World of Orangutans' Education Day developed, run and funded jointly by Sarawak Forestry Corporation and Way Out Experiences (WOX). The volunteers were enthusiastic and vital group leaders and guides and Matt and Keith were stationed at their orangutan enclosures to give informal chats about them.

Months in the planning, the programme represents the rekindling of regular activity/educational days held at MWC with the aim of promoting a deeper empathy and understanding of the local environment and its wildlife in local children.

The children had an action-packed day from Welcome and Registration at 8am to receiving a smart certificate from an SFC official around 5pm. They received a workbook full of activities to complete; answers were found on information boards or on completion of an activity. Facts and figures about orangutans were dutifully recorded (such as how long they live, what are threats in the wild, why orangutans are at MWC in the first place and so on)



Delicious locally made packed meals provided energy for the day’s activities, which included close observation of the Centre’s orangutans as well as fun games and serious discussions, all of which stimulated interest in this flagship species of Sarawak. Before and after attitude assessment questionnaires were completed by all participants.

A highlight was when, after each group measured their largest member’s arm span, an Aman sized shirt was modelled by one of the children…eyes were wide and jaws dropped (they did at the tailor shop too!!)

So by the end of the day each child had walked the Animal Enclosure Trail, been up close and personal with an orangutan, discussed serious local conservation issues, received a tree bark pencil case and certificate; the drawing competition had then heads down and the ‘Creating Corridors” game had some of them chopped down by a ‘chainsaw’!
Once again, an action packed day of cooperation and learning for all involved and I think at the end of it we were more exhausted than after a hard day’s building orangutan climbing frames! Thank you to everyone involved!

Well, must go now, we visit the Longhouse to have dinner with the locals tonight and then Matt, Keith and I will have a welcome break; Matt to Thailand and us to England. So, until next time, keep reading the blogs and supporting our wonderful animals!

(Caroline Bellhouse is our Education and Interpretation expert at Matang Wildlife Centre, along with our Primate expert Keith Lloyd and Facilitator Matt Simpson.)

Labels: Matang and local community education