The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, located near the town of Sandakan, is one of only four places in the world set up to preserve and protect orangutans.
Established in a corner of the Kabili-Sepilok rainforest reserve in 1964, the center has expanded in recent years as news of its work began to spread and the number of orphaned and abandoned orangutans continues to grow due to ongoing destruction of their natural habitat.
These endearing creatures, with their orange hair and intelligent eyes are cared for at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre until they are strong enough or old enough to return to live independently in the Borneo jungle.
A raised wooden walkway takes you to the observation deck where orangutans emerge from the rainforest to be fed by the rangers. The Sepilok center supplements their rainforest diet with two feeds at 10am and 3pm. While not all the orangutans make an appearance at feeding time, this is the best time to see them as they mostly roam free and unseen in the surrounding jungle.
The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre also provides medical aid to other local wildlife species including; sun bears, gibbons, Sumatran rhinoceros and the occasional injured elephant.
The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is 25km (15.5mi) north of Sandakan.
