Location: Sepilok, Borneo
Recommended by Kerry of VeggTravel
How do I know it’s ethical?
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is an ethical experience because it rescues and protects orangutans from illegal animal trade and exploitation. The orangutans only remain in captivity if they are infants or need special care, otherwise, they are not enclosed and are free to come and go as they please. Over 600 orangutans have been released into the wild to date, while over 1,200 have been successfully rehabilitated.
Description of the Experience
Sepilok rescue centre is set amongst the orangutan’s natural habitat, in the tropical jungle terrain in the Malaysian province of Sabah. The easiest way to get there is to fly into the Sandakan airport from Kuta Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur. Buses and organized tours are also available but take much longer due to the long, winding journeys by road from any other major towns or cities. However, they are cheap and it is generally safe and easy to travel around Borneo.
Walking along the wooden platforms set within the jungle, you will feel totally emerged in nature. Take one of the many trails to see more of these beautiful surroundings and see what wildlife you can spot. You can even return during the evening for a night walk to see what nocturnal animals await. Don’t forget a flashlight/headlight and some warm clothes for this experience.
Head to the nursery to see the juvenile orangutans being cared for in a fun playground specially created to provide a fulfilling and enriching environment for them to develop. This section is behind glass to prevent these orangutans from encountering humans and picking up any human-related diseases.
Another highlight is the feeding station. There are two feeding sessions, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. While the orangutans are free to come and go as they please, they also like a free dinner and so this is the greatest chance of seeing them. As they are free to roam and it is not unusual to see them walking down the same wooden platform you’re on. This can be somewhat intimidating but also a truly captivating moment. You will also see many other monkeys on the platform, stealing the Orangutans’ food!
Company/ Cost:
Entrance to the reserve costs 30 RM for tourists, plus an additional 10 RM if you wish to take photos. There is also a gift shop and a conservation centre that provides information about the orangutans they currently have in the rescue, their background, and even their personality.
There are ample opportunities for you to adopt or donate to the conservation efforts and after seeing these magnificent beasts for yourself, it will be hard for you not to. If you’d like to extend your encounter with wildlife, you can also visit the sun bear conservation centre nearby. Multi-center tickets are available.
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This is one post on a series of ethical animal tourism posts by travel content creators. The experiences cover all seven continents and a variety of animals. Ensure that your animal experience is an ethical one.
Learn More About Ethical Animal Tourism
10 Questions to Ask to Ensure the Encounter is Ethical?
