It is Friday morning and thus the clinic is closed although some immunizations are being given. Jim and Joseph are searching for a replacement wheel for the bike he was riding back from the juice place last night when he and a motorcycle had a minor collision. There is a problem with this "wrong/right" side of the road business. He says that he turned in front of the motorcycle, but the guy could have stopped but didn't. The result is a sore hip for him, no cuts etc. thank goodness, and a ruined front wheel on one of the better bikes. OOPS. But it looks like there is a replacement available although there has been some discussion re size and Jim was right!
I have interviewed the woman who does the environmental education in the schools surrounding the national forest and will write up a report for the donors supporting the ASRI kids program. It was great fun to hear how this program developed and to learn that the children originally did not know that orangutans only live in Borneo and Sumatra. They thought they lived in the US as well as lots of other countries. Once they realize how special this place is, they are proud and want to take care of it. More later on this if there is time and the internet holds.
Which is a problem. We need more band width (perhaps) and a switch can't be flipped, any change requires a trip somewhere so we work hard with the computers in the AM and always cross our fingers.
My latest fun adventure was traveling yesterday to Ketapang about 2 hours on a very bumpy road, but very intresting drive. The two travelers in the back refer to their trip as being "popcorn" due to all the "popping" up they do as the driver manages the bottom scraping pot holes. There were two goals of the trip. First a trip to the park office to present a letter asking for support from whomever for a grant application to USAID. There was lots of conversation and much laughter with people in the park office and perhaps a request in the form of a letter was passed but I didn't see it. In the car as we left, Hotlin said that the person the letter was addressed to was in the building, but she couldn't just walk in and give him the paper work, She needed to present a letter of request, he needs to think it over, and then at some future time there will be a meeting or something.. Sound vague??? Nothing is easy here by our standards.
After that visit we attended the grand opening of a newly built orangutan rescue and rehabilitation center. And this was impressive and a very big event. Multiple "tents" were put together on this open field facing a blue and white building which turned out to be the office for this center. Under the primary tent there were about 200 plastic blue chairs with the first two rows of chairs covered in white with big blue bows. As we checked in we were each given a box of "snacks" and a rolled up poster. We were then shown to seats on the second row right behind a group of dignitaries representing different levels of government as well as the vet who started the entire project - a woman from Spain who is behind the entire center. Speeches, speeches and more while I watched a winged creature of some kind crawl in and out of the hole by my feet and then we had a tour. We did not see any orangutans but there were about 25 already at the center. They are very susceptible to human diseases and any treatment is done with as little human contact as possible. This really was an impressive, multiple building, site. The hospital, complete with operating room, lab, Xray, medication cabinet etc. was the cleanest area I have seen arriving in Borneo. Spotless. There were multiple small buildings with small cages with climbing ropes for orphaned, hurt, or ill baby orangutans, and a very large enclosed forest area for the juveniles which does allow them to climb out the top, but they come back at this point. Eventually they will house adults, but are not ready. Adult orangutans are 8 - 10 times stronger than humans, and they aren't yet ready to house them. 25 or so are currently at this site and more will be moved from a transitional site shortly.
This event was also interesting in that we met a group of volunteers who are here participating in the constructiion....basically a Habitat international group although they are with the International Animal Rescue org. They are here for a month, from Norway, Australia, Great Britian +. They pay their way and for their housing and food and a certain amount greater than their expenses to support the project. They are digging drainage ditches (this entire area is basically a swamp), footings for buildings, building a wood walk way etc. etc.
I also had a very interesting talk with one of the managers of the construction who has lived in Borneo for 8 years and has along history with the Intentional Animal Rescue group. He was one of the westerners running around with a big camera and recording all of the events.
Following the tour, everyone in attendance was fed and I am guessing that number between 200 and 300. This is a BIG deal. Again we had rice with beef - a sign of the importance of the event as beef is very expensive (and nothing like we are used to), rice, spices, water, langsat (a kind of fruit which is very good but lots of work to get out. Real plates were used and washed behind the office. There is no HyVee to call for catering, so I can only imagine the effort it took to put this event together. Oh yes, there are four vets and they rotate call. I was told that about 3 years ago a baby orangutan was brought to the ASRI clinic with a bullet wound but did not survive.
It was very good to see this facility and to realize all the efforts that are underway to help the orangutan survive. Some of the problems are that they get into farmers crops (because the farmers have encroached on the forest) and are captured to be kept as pets or actually harmed.
We also have a second hole in the thatched roof which led me to a slip this morning returning from my "shower". So, Jim ad I are fine but both nursing a somewhat sore hip.
All for now...lunch is calling...although we may visit Amadi's cafe next door instead. And I have been preparing for my first English class. This WILL be interesting!
Love to all,
Lauri
No comments:
Post a Comment