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My fun in the forest is drawing to an end…

Category: Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve, Orangutan Foundation Staff, Uncategorized | Date: Mar 12 2009 | By: orangutanfoundation

This post has two parts, a fun story and a sad one. I’ll start with the fun one first.

Last Sunday’s day out, when I caught up with orangutan Zidane at Camp Buluh, wasn’t all plain sailing. As we headed up to Camp Buluh our speedboat hit a submerged log. This happens fairly often and is normally no big drama. On Sunday, however, we hit the log end-on and split it with the result the speedboat’s propeller ended-up stuck fast in the V formed by the split wood. Try as we might, we could not free the boat. The only thing for it was to get in the water. Without really thinking, the driver and I jumped in. Bracing one foot on one side of the V and pulling at the other side I tried to open the gap while the driver pushed the engine free.

Makes sense doesn’t it?

Stephen in deep water

In case you can’t make out the red writing it reads - ‘uncomfortably, deep, dark water!’

I had not been in the water many minutes before I suddenly remembered the crocodile attack from earlier in the year! That water is very, very black. And deep. All of which can really set your imagination into overdrive: I was very happy to climb back on board.

The second, sad piece of information is that I won’t be telling you many more of these stories. Our day out was part of my handover: in April I will be leaving Indonesia, hopefully to return to University to study veterinary medicine.

June Rubis at Pondok Ambung

June Rubis at Pondok Ambung Tropical Forest Research Station.

Pak Hudi

Mr Hudi Dewe above and below.

Mr Hudi

The good news is that two great people are taking over from me: June Rubis from Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo) and Mr. Hudi Dewe from Java. Both have years of experience behind them and will no doubt keep this blog flowing. I welcome them both to the Orangutan Foundation.

Many thanks,

Stephen

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7 Responses to “My fun in the forest is drawing to an end…”

paula, on 12 Mar 2009

So sad that you are leaving Stephen…I can’t believe it. You are an incredible story teller and we will sorely miss you. June and Hudi you are both very welcome, we look forward to your wonderful stories and WildlifeDirect is here to help you in case of any need.Kind regards Paula

Chris, London, on 12 Mar 2009

Good luck with everything

brigitta, switzerland, on 12 Mar 2009

Dear Stephen.
It is very sad for us to hear that you are leaving Tanjung Puting! We wanted to come back next year for at least one week to ask you so much questions and to see everything what we have missed in July and to work on the project for the school.
Your storys have been so touching and I had always the feeling to bee with you and the red cousins.
Its a good thing for all the animals that there will bee a good vet but it is a bad thing for de Oranigs and for us.
I wish you all the best so as for Mrs. June and Mr. Hudi.
Please tell us on this blog (or on facebook group Tanjung Puting ;-)how you are.
Sincerly,
Brigitta and Maciek

Lesley Bangle, on 17 Mar 2009

Hi Stephen,
I am sorry to hear that you are leaving. You and all the guys work so very hard out there, and I think what you do is nothing short of amazing. I wish more people could see what you do. I would just like to say thank you very much for everything, you were a mind of information on the Study Tour, and if I hadn’t taken part in that I would never have known about the Volunteer Programme, and of course never would have met Abdi. On a personal note thank you for the help with the Visa. Still no news!! I am back in the UK now, and missing Indonesia very much. I wish you all the very best for your future.

Love

Lesley

Tanya Ness, on 18 Mar 2009

Stephen

I’m happy for you that you are going on to do something that you are obviously passionate about, but so sad at the same time. I think you’re amazing and a very kind man. Having you at the Study Tour made things fun and interesting and I learned a lot from you. Even more, everyone was always so happy when you got to hang out with us or visit while we were volunteering, thank you for your thoughtfulness when I needed someone to talk to, very much appreciated! And most of all, the orangutans will miss you, you are a familiar friendly face to so many of them and you have done so much for them and their cause, if they could, they would tell you how much they appreciate all you have done over the years. Thank you Stephen and good luck in all that you do.

Tanya (from Canada)

Louise Smith, on 08 Apr 2009

Hi Stephen

So sorry to hear that you’re leaving the OF. I’m sure you will be sadly missed. But its very exciting about the study!

I really enjoyed your company, stories and humour on the Red Ape Trail in 2002. Good luck with the study.

Louise Smith
(now living in sunny Bondi if you’re ever in this neck of the woods)

sheryl bottner, on 20 Apr 2009

HOW DID I MISS THIS POST?

I hope someone is checking comments so I can wish you farewell and good luck. I will miss your posts very much, Stephen, and I’m sure the orangs and the humans in Indonesia will miss you. Take care and enjoy veterinary school and maybe pop in now and then to say ‘hi’?

You’ve been a real inspiration.

s.

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