Yellow light entered the window of COP borneo mini clinic. It is half past six. Under the morning light through forest canopy, Popi was playing in the baby house, waiting for meal time and forest school afterwards. That were our routine in the morning. While Popi plays in the baby house, I clean her enclosure, prepare milk for the baby orangutans in enclosure 2, COP Borneo rehabilitation center, East Kalimantan.
What would Popi do when someone approach her?
Popi knows that when she plays in the baby house, there will be someone bringing her food. Popi will hide in her favorite spot, inside a blue container. She will hide there while observing the surroundings. Just like kids who like to play hide and seek, Popi will continue to hide, even when her name is called over and over. But she will stay in her favorite spot, leaving the keeper busy looking for her.
Now Popi has a new hiding spot. Volunteers from China provided additional variation to the baby house, built by Angel COP Borneo Project. It is a project of female volunteer from Australia led by Bev Luff from With Compassion and Soul. Baby house is a playing and training arena for baby orangutans to train their muscles and reflexes. When the weather doesn’t allow for forest school activity, the baby house is the destination for the younger orangutans.
Popi’s new hiding spot is a hanging tire. Her small figure allows her to hide in it. Popi will hide until the keeper left. Baby sitter Wetty Rupiana thought her behavior is hilarious.
Popi seems very happy to play alone in the baby house. Baby house is the place to express herself. Maybe baby house is comfortable for her, with less denser forest canopy. She was reluctant to go to forest school. She stayed on the top until Wety come and get her. (Zahra_Orangufriends)
POPI BERMAIN PETAK UMPET
Cahaya kuning menembus jendela mini klinik COP Borneo. Waktu menunjukkan pukul setengah tujuh pagi. Di bawah cahaya pagi yang menerobos kanopi hutan, Popi bermain di baby house, menunggu saat makan lalu berangkat sekolah hutan. Ya begitulah kebiasaan kami di pagi hari, Popi bermain di baby house, lalu saya akan membersihkan kandangnya, membuat susu untuk para bayi orangutan di kandang 2, pusat rehabilitasi orangutan COP Borneo, Kalimantan Timur.
Apa yang dilakukan Popi saat ada yang datang menghampirinya?
Popi tahu, saat dia bermainan di baby house, akan ada yang datang membawakan makanan. Popi memilih bersembunyi di dalam tong biru. Tong biru itu adalah tempat favorit Popi bersembunyi sambil mengamati sekeliling. Seperti anak-anak yang suka bermain petak umpet, Popi pun akan terus bersembunyi, sekalipun namanya dipanggil-panggil berulang kali. Semakin sibuk animal keeper mencarinya, Popi pun akan tetap bertahan di dalam tong birunya.
Kini, Popi punya tempat persembunyian baru lagi. Relawan dari China, memberi variasi tambahan untuk baby house yang dibangun oleh Angel COP Borneo Project. Suatu project relawan perempuan dari Australia yang dikoordinir oleh Bev Luff dari With Compassion and Soul. Baby house menjadi arena bermainan yang sangat berguna melatih otot-otot dan refleks para bayi orangutan. Saat cuaca di COP Borneo tidak memungkin untuk ke sekolah hutan, biasanya orangutan-rangutan kecil akan bermain di sini juga. Tempat persembunyian Popi yang baru adalah ban bekas yang digantung. Tubuh kecilnya masih memungkinkan dia bersembunyi di situ. Popi akan pura-pura hilang hingga animal keeper pergi. Baby Sitter, Wety Rupiana nyaris tak bisa menahan tawanya melihat kelakuan Popi.
Popi terlihat senang sekali ketika bermain sendirian di baby house. Baby house adalah tempatnya mengekspresikan dirinya. Mungkin baby house lebih nyaman buatnya, dengan kanopi pohon yang tidak terlalu rapat. Dia pun terlihat enggan untuk berangkat ke sekolah hutan. Dia pun bertahan terus di atas, hingga Wety menjemputnya ke atas. (WET)
