Supported causes: Orangutans
Wendy has adopted an Orangutan called Kesi, through the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation
Kesi's background
Kesi - A child of the rainforest, born in difficult times
Kesi is a Swahili name, meaning child born in difficult times. Though of African origin, you will understand why we named her Kesi when you read her story…
Kesi arrived quietly on September 1st 2004, late in the evening when darkness was closing in. Suddenly, the dogs in the garden around Lone's house started to bark
loudly. Eko, our paramedic entered the house via the back door. He had just come back from a rescue near the oil-palm plantations in the centre of Kalimantan.
He carried a small package of material and he gave it to Lone, the project manager. Inside there was a tiny little female orangutan, with a face like a little mouse. Kesi was approximately 3 months old at that moment. Her eyes wide open, intelligently looking into the world, trying to find out what was happening around her. Then Lone showed me the little orangutan's left arm, a deep sadness overcame me. She had lost a hand. I had to look the other way. I couldn't bear the thought of such suff ering. But the images came to my mind and I could see what might have happened:
Kesi holding on to her starving mother, searching for what food remains in the sparse landscape that was once dense forest where she grew up. Her mother, too weak to climb, vulnerable and then suddenly - people running after them. Machetes, knives, coming from all directions. Her mother slain, and Kesi, clinging so strongly, loses her hand as one swings his machete into her body for the final kill. The pain, horrible and terrifying. People bring the little one home, perhaps with the intention of selling her into the illegal pet trade if they can get a good price for a baby with only one hand. It was also very difficult for her to open her left foot. We found a big scar on her left foot. My imagination was not that unrealistic. The long knife that cut off her hand also damaged her foot. Will she ever be able to climb the trees?
Time passes. It seems she has already forgotten the pain. She smiles so happily when she lies in her little basket and you tickle her belly. But I, I didn't forget the pain. Every time I look at her I feel ashamed that I belong to the same species as the people who did this to her.
Kesi: child born in difficult times.
Right now the orangutans are having difficult times, not only difficult times of drought and hunger, but also difficult times witnessing the destruction of their home by humans, those who destroy without the readiness to share - they want it all.
Kesi. I promise: we are going to do everything to make sure that your children and those of all the other "people of the forest" will never have to be burdened with such a name.
Meike, Babysitter, Nyaru Menteng
Kesi Spring 2010
Group 6 in Forest School has been invaded by Commandante Kesi!
She is 5 years old and one of the naughtiest orangutans in her class.
Because Kesi is so independent, she will often go "jalan jalan" - the
Indonesian equivalent of the Australian "Walkabout"!
Every morning she will go to the Forest School earlier than her
friends and she will climb up to her favourite trees, where she will
spend most of her day. Despite her disability, the loss of her hand
during the attack on her mother, Kesi does not let this prevent her
from being a normal Orangutan. Even though she has only one hand
(not including her feet which are just like her hands!!), she has
excelled everyone’s expectations. Her nest-building skills are the
envy of some of her classmates. Her determination will stand her in
good stead when the time comes to move to an island home. And
she will be more than ready!
Kesi always has tons of energy, much more than other orangutans in
her group. She loves swaying in the lianas searching for forest fruits.
No termite is safe when Kesi is around. She loves to eat these too.
Kesi enjoys problem-solving how to get the termites, and will use a
stick as a tool, breaking open the termite nest and quickly eating
them before they disappear. In fact, any challenge it seems is good
in Kesi’s opinion.
Each night when she leaves the forest and waits on the lawn
while her babysitter prepares her enclosure, she will make
her way to the play equipment, looking for the honey and
jam hidden in the logs and branches. Her antics do not go
unnoticed by the younger Orangutans, who will watch her
and learn how to nd and extract the honey and jam from
hard to reach places. Little Kesi is fast becoming "Aunty Kesi"!
Kesi was always known to be a little choosy with her
babysitter friends and as a result, only a few people were
able to work close with her. She never gives her babysitter a
moment’s rest, climbing up into her hammock and throwing
branches. And then just as quickly she may seek forgiveness
in the shape of a hug by grabbing the babysitters’ hand and
placing it on her head - "I want a cuddle", she says with her
eyes. Growing up has not been easy for Kesi - she can be
forgiven for having the Bolshi attitude she so frequently
displays. But as she has matured, her attitude is starting to
mellow and she has a more calm and relaxed approach to
life.
Kesi maintains a dominant personality in the Orangutan
family, demonstrating no matter how tough you may think
you have it, you can always bounce back. Always that little
bit cheeky and pushing the boundaries with her babysitters,
Kesi will often lead the group into a set-up that ends in
another orangutan being caught or in trouble with the
others, while Kesi will often be the one sitting back watching
the show plays out.