The Orang-Utan (Malay for ‘man of the forest’) Rehabilitation Centre is situated on the east coast of Sabah. The project is based at two different locations – the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre (located on the edge of Kabili Sepilok Forest Reserve) and the Nature Reserve (located at the Shangri-la Rasa Ria Resort). On our recent trip to Kota Kinabalu we visited the Nature Reserve in Rasa Ria.
The Nature Reserve encompasses 64 acres and was established in 1996 in collaboration with the Sabah Wildlife Department. Orphaned, injured, and confiscated orang-utans taken from illegal pet trading are sent to the reserve and nursed back to health. The wardens treat the orang-utans and then teach them important survival skills such as foraging for fruit and climbing trees. Once those skills are mastered they and then introduced into the forest reserve at the center. When the wardens feel that an orang-utan is fully rehabilitated they are taken back and released into the wild.
At the nature reserve you have a chance to learn more about the rehabilitation process through a presentation before having a chance to view the orang-utans up close. A boardwalk leads past the nursery/food preparation station and onto the feeding platform where the orang-utans are fed milk and bananas. There are two daily feedings (10 AM and 2 PM) and since each feeding can only accommodate 65 viewers, be sure to book a viewing in advance! The feeding lasts an hour and costs $65 ringgits ($21 USD). At the reserve you can also partake in guided tours, a canopy walkway tour, or opt to be a Ranger for a Day to learn more about the habits, food preparation and temperament of the various animals found at the reserve.
We choose to view a feeding and got to see 4 baby orang-utans! They were really friendly and energetic as they swung from the rope structure to get their bananas. We also got to see lots of fish, turtles, and chickens on the hike up to the orang-utan feeding platform.
Address: Nature Reserve at Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu.
Hours: Feedings at 10 AM and 2 PM, can book through the hotel
Cost: $65 MYR per person
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