Some of the creatures here were orphaned, some were confiscated and others were surrendered by the public. Unless they’re needed as evidence in court, all are released as soon as possible – unless they lack survival skills, in which case returning them to the wild would be a death sentence, either because they’ll starve or because, having lost their fear of humans, they’re liable to wander into a village and get eaten. (Unless it’s a Malay village, that is – Malays, as Muslims, do not consume most rainforest animals).
Among the most celebrated residents of Matang is Aman, one of the largest male orang-utans in the world. Known for his absolutely massive cheek pads, he hit the headlines in 2007 when he became the first of his species to undergo phacoemulsification (cataract surgery). The procedure ended 10 years of blindness, though it did nothing to restore his tongue, removed after he chomped into an electric cable, or his index finger, bitten off by a rival dominant male.
Matang is home to three bearcats (binturongs), two of them females, that are too old to be releases. This extraordinary tree-dwelling carnivore, whose closest genetic relative is the seal or walrus, can tuck away a fertilised egg for months and perhaps years, delaying pregnancy until sufficient fruit is available (the trick is called embryonic diapause).
Other animals that live here include two clouded leopards and nine of the happiest captive sun bears in the world. In horrific condition when brought here, they are undergoing a rehabilitation program that’s the first of its kind anywhere.
One of Matang’s rarest creatures is the false (Malayan) gharial, the most endangered of the 16 species of crocodile. Easily identifiable thanks to its long, thin snout, scientists estimate that only about 2500 are left in the wild.
Rare birds that live here include a buffy (Malay) fish owl, a changeable (crested) hawk-eagle, a white-bellied sea eagle and a confiscated mallard duck (an exotic in these parts!) who’s taken to following around a lesser adjutant stork, thinking perhaps that it’s his mother.
Many of the centre’s caged animals are fed from 9am to 10am.
