Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine October 2015 | Page 130

128

Travel | Bukit Lawang

© Andrew Walmsley / Alamy Stock Photo

Several captive elephants being trained
and used to help the park ranger to
monitor/protect the national park.
Consider yourself lucky if you see this
beautiful wild peacock while visiting Bukit
Lawang, since they are very sensitive to
slight movement or sound.
Visitors interact with and feed
the elephants in Tangkahan after the
bathing session.
Stay at a safe distance while taking
pictures of the orangutans.

Even though we don’t spot
any other ‘hero’ animals,
there are signs and sounds
all around us, reminding
us we are never alone.

The orangutan is busy collecting and eating
fruit. At one point he pauses; he looks
at us dead on. I make eye contact with
him for a moment – he decides we’re not
important and continues on with his day,
his orange fur vanishing into shades
of green as he swings gracefully from tree
to tree. Incredible! We spend a good
15 minutes there afterwards, simply enjoying
the symphony of bird calls and absorbing
the unique vibe of the forest.

Even though we don’t spot any other ‘hero’
animals after the orangutan for some time,
there are signs and sounds all around us,
reminding us we are never alone trekking
through the forest. Ipol shows me scratch
marks on collapsed tree trunks, indicating
sun bears have clearly been scratching to find
honey. Then we come across a huge anthill,
which is the main source of protein for
orangutans, who use sticks to reach the
insects inside. Suddenly, I hear an odd sound
from the back of the bushes in front o bW2