Tragedy struck us again this week with the news from Camp Leakey, in Tanjung Puting National Park, that Tut, a female orangutan, had her two-year old baby killed by a pig.
It appears the pig and orangutans were near to each other in Camp when the pig turned and snapped at Tiido, catching the young orangutan around the head. One bite was enough. Tut immediately picked him up and when the assistants rushed over they could see Tiido was still alive but, within an hour, he was lying limp in his mother’s arms.
I am afraid I don’t have a recent photo of Tiido but if you zoom in on the photo below, of Tut sitting by the tree, you can see a tiny arm across her waist. That was Tiido when he was new born.
Peter’s photos show him when he was a year old. I am afraid I don’t have more recent photos.
Tut with her beautiful baby Tiido. Photo by Peter Ellen.
Tut was released at Camp Leakey in the very early days of Biruté Galdikas’ research there. Indeed, she is the mother of Tom the present “King of Camp Leakey”. Tiido was her fourth son.
Bornean Bearded pigs are common in this area primarily because they are omnivorous; they will eat anything. This means they can survive in a wide variety of habitats including oil palm plantations – where they are considered pests – as well as in dense forest. They tend to hang around the orangutan feeding stations so they can scavenge left-overs or dropped fruit.
They are temperamental and have been known to chase orangutans, probably in the hope the orangutan will drop the food they are carrying. In 1985 Biruté Galdikas reported a pig killing a young orangutan. But this week’s incident was the first of its kind in over 20 years.
Regarding Tiido’s death, I know people will say “that’s life; it is nature red in tooth and claw”. In my heart of hearts I agree with them. But I still feel sick and a little heartbroken (I threw a branch at the first pig I saw on Saturday).
To end on a positive note, thank you very much Maciej G. for your donation of $130. This is hugely appreciated and will go towards our new feeding system in Lamandau.
Donations made here are
Feb 3rd Matthew K USD 35.00
10 Comments
But it’s not really natural, is it? I mean, if we hadn’t screwed up our eco-systems to the point where Great Apes are all endangered then they wouldn’t need feeding platforms where wild pigs can get to them. Right? The orangs would be safely off the ground with their babies, avoiding the dangers below.
I’m very sad at the news of Tiido’s death. Very sad.
s.
Oh, I am so sorry to hear about this…I cannot imagine how heartbroken you all must be…my best to all of you and a virtual hug for Tut
who must just be devastated…
Dear Stephen. We are very sad to hear this news. We have been told about the danger for the little orangutans, but when we have seen Siswi aremd with a sick, runnig agains it – we had teh hope, that nothing bad will happen to them.
u8dse (upps…sorry this “u8dse” … one of my cats has been crossing the keyboard
Perhaps Tut and Tiido are of one of the photos we took in July?
The link to some of the photos from Camp Leakey is
http://orangutans.pro-ject-pool.ch/fotos_videos/camp_leakey_08.html
and from Pondok Tanguii
http://orangutans.pro-ject-pool.ch/fotos_videos/pondok_tanggui.html
Is it Tom on the Photos? We only know the names of
Linda and Leonardo.
What is the adress we coul’d send you a CD with all the photos?
Sincerely, Brigitta
Stephen,
That is such sad news about Tido and I am devastated. I spent a lot of time with Tuts and Tido at Camp Leakey as a volunteer last year and it breaks my heart.
Please keep thrwoing sticks at those pigs for me!!!
Philippa
This is such sad news. I hope that everyone who is reading this post has shared it using the icon above – I’m’ digging it right now. The situation facing orangutans needs more awareness. You can help by using the social networking tools provided under ’share this’ icon.
This is a shocking video on youtube about how palm oil is killing orangutans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV6zoz9_Nyk
So sad…….that poor mama…..I am sure this is really hard on her losing her young one! I wonder if these pigs are like the wild hogs wer have around here in the south………they do a lot of damage!
Dear Stephen,
Sad to hear about Tiido, I do remember him very well lying with his mother Tut and brother Thomas in front of the information centre in Camp Leakey. I was there visiting beginning this year. I have lots of images of Tiido, which I am happy to send to you. The pig, I saw it too and Percy was really scared of it the time. He was hanging in the trees screeming for his mother to help him to the feeding platform. Really sorry to hear about the news. Hope that Tut will have another baby soon. Take care, Nina “I wish I was at Camp Leakey now!”
so sad to read about tido,,
kasian…
saya tidak bisa membantu secara materi,,,
tapi suatu saat nanti ,pasti saya bantu,,