Since January, the volunteer project at Matang Wildlife Centre has moved into hyperdrive. The outcomes are coming thick and fast. The two babies, Ting San and Mamu are being taken everyday into the jungle to climb trees and they even make nests and stay out. Doris is often taken out into the jungle as well. Many think she is too humanised and too old, but Sarawak Forestry and the Great Orangutan Project are determined to make the effort to rehabilitate all the orangutans.

In the meantime, Sarawak Forestry are continuing to develop Matang Wildlife Centre. New enclosures are being built by the volunteers and staff to provide the best care and enrichment possible. There are also more animal species slated for rehabilitation as well. Animals in Sarawak are rejoicing!

Which leads nicely onto the sunbear project, the world's first rehabilitation and release for the rare Malaysian bear. Everything is moving forwards apace. After having been released into their new enclosure, their rehab is going better than expected. Most of the bears have now learnt to climb trees in the search for food, a vital behaviour for life in the wild. They are being fed insects and natural foods of all kinds, also indispensable if they are to live free. If all continues to go well, we will be selecting the best candidates for release, putting a radio collar onto them, and following them by satellite tracking.

As ever, the volunteer project continues to make other small but essential changes to the Centre. The trail and release sites have been steadily improved, with bridges and lodge being reconstructed. Vet care has improved, enrichment and husbandry continues at a high standard. Even the platforms that were poorly built and have decayed so quickly have been replaced.

With Sarawak Forestry leading, the volunteer program supporting with sweat, effort and love, Matang Wildlife Centre has rapidly turned into one of the world's best orangutan and tropical animal rescue ad release centres.