Hi to everybody...short personal post today but thought you'd like to read this instead...a really great letter...
Letters: Saved by an orang-utan

How an intelligent ape saved me from being eaten

Tuesday, 6 May 2008

Sir: You report on the resourcefulness of orang-utans (Picture Post, 29 April). I was visiting the orang-utan sanctuary at Camp Leakey in Central Kalimantan, Borneo, some years ago. On the first morning, while it was still dark. I went out and started to walk in the direction of the river along a wooden causeway. Dimly, I soon discerned a large orang-utan with a smaller one on her lap. As she had a friendly look, I stopped and spoke to her. In response she took my hand in a friendly way.

I stood there for a while trying to communicate to her, but when I made to leave I found that her grip was one of iron; I could not move. Time passed and the sky slowly lightened, and she suddenly released my hand. I said my goodbyes and set off down the causeway, but as I approached the river I became aware that a large crocodile, lying across the causeway some 50 yards ahead, was looking at me speculatively. I froze for a moment, as the croc started to turn towards me. We stared at each other eyeball to eyeball for what seemed an eternity; then it launched itself into the surrounding marsh, with a huge splash.

I walked back rapidly to the compound, waving as I passed the orang-utan. I told one of the Dayak guides my story and he laughed. He said the orang-utan, one who had been released into the wild but who returned every morning for her breakfast, was well aware that the crocodile was there, but also that they attacked only at night. Princess – she even had been given a name – had held me back until she judged the sky was light enough to deter it from having me for breakfast.

I took her a big bunch of bananas.

Sachlan North

Great big hugs to one and all...