These incredible pictures of orangutans swimming in an Indonesian
river have left wildlife experts stunned.

Playing on the Rungan River, near to Palas Island on Borneo, these 12
orangutans can be seen swimming and submerging themselves in the muddy
waters.

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For experts the behaviour of these orangutans – who like all apes have
a natural fear of water because of predators such as crocodiles -
could prove to be a significant step forward in their evolution.

“This is a rarity – to see orangutans coming down for a swim is
unheard of in the wild,” says Simon Husson – project advisor and
scientific consultant for Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation.

“However, we know that orangutans are intelligent and innovative.

“They try out different behaviours, or ways of solving problems in
their environment, and over time develop cultural innovations.”

Palas Island is one of five neighbouring islands of Nyaru Menteng,
which is the rescue and rehabilitation centre of BOS.

The orangutans on these islands have been saved from de-forestation
and cruelty and are in the final stages of pre-release until they can
ultimately be returned to the wild.

“When orangutans have a large food supply, then they feel emboldened
to experiment with their surroundings,” says Simon Husson.

“The islands on which BOS has placed these orangutans to prepare them
for release back into the wild have more (and better) food resources
than the average forest, so it is unsurprising that these apes are
trying out different things – like swimming.

“Also, in this area there is a very low to non-existent crocodile
population which may have been noticed by the orangutans, who have
then shared this behaviour among themselves.”

Villagers who live near to the banks of the Rungan River have been
aware of the unusual activity of the apes for months.

“I had been informed that the orangutans swam here by contacts I have
with the locals,” explains Ardiles Rante, the wildlife photographer
who took the amazing pictures.

“I spent three days on a boat waiting for the orangutans to come to
the river bank and swim and on the third morning I got what I wanted.

“They appeared like they were simply playing and messing around in the
water and were thoroughly enjoying themselves.”

Witnessing around 12 orangutans of mixed sex in the water, the
photographer was as stunned as the experts have been.

“The water here can get up to 30 feet deep in places and the
orangutans just seemed to wade out and swim,” he said.

“The majority of them used a branch for support, but they did not seem
put off by the water or being wet.

“They could see across the river which was around 20 feet in breadth
and they all seemed to know exactly what they were doing.”

Rescued and placed at the Nyaru Menteng centre by BOS, the orangutan
is increasingly coming under threat from the worldwide demand for palm
oil.

Experts claim that an areas roughly the size of two football fields is
destroyed very minute, all of which is the orangutans natural
environment.

It is estimated that 100 years ago there were up to 300,000 wild
Bornean orangutans.

Now that number is approximately 30 to 40,000 and extinction in the
wild is feared if the logging for palm oil is not controlled.

“They (the orangutans) remain at Nyaru Menteng for up to eight years
of their lives, cared for by our teams of local men and women who
teach them how to adapt to life in the wild,” says Lone Droscher-
Neilsen, Founder and Manager of Nyaru Menteng, where BOS places its
rescued orangutans.

“They’re then relocated in groups of about 25 to a Palas Island for
the first stage in their release, where they live a semi-wild
existence, but are provided with food monitored on a daily basis.

“A couple of years later, those who are ready for total freedom, will
be taken to an area of protected rainforest, and released back into
the wild.”

According to Simon Husson even though the level of care the orangutans
receive could have led to them discarding their fear of water, a more
simple reason may explain their ventures into the water.

“There is also the possibility that the orangutans are living on an
overcrowded island and looking for a way to escape,” reasons Simon.

In addition, Simon also feels that instead of an evolutionary step
forward, this could indeed be a step back.

“This could be a case of males in the area feeling dominated by an
alpha male and looking for a way off the island to procreate,” says
Simon.

“If that were the case, then that would be a step backwards in time
and not necessarily a development of the species.”

Please visit the BOS website for more information: www.savetheorangutan.org.uk

Words by James Nye
Pictures supplied by  Barcroft Media

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