Since my first visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in 2009, I have come back here at least 4 times in the last 5 years and my last trip being in October 2014 when I was touring Borneo for the Borneo Bird Race.
Having some free time I managed to pay a visit back here for old times sake and to my surprise, there have been some minor changes since 2013.
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Review
In general, since the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre opened in early 2014, plus having visited this place while I was here, I thought I might as well pay a visit to the orangutan sanctuary and was actually happy to see that improvements have been done externally.
Even then, there was still some work going on as I saw foundations being built, so I am assuming there will be a new building erected here.
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| The main Sepilok archway as you enter the rehabilitation centre |
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| A new structure outside the centre |
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| The Orangutans at Sepilok |
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| The Orangutan Appeal counter which you will not miss |
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| Sepilok cafeteria, a great place for some coffee and tea |
Speaking to some of the staff of the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, they informed me that the external modifications are to suit the growing number of tourist coming here as lately, there has been an increase of tourism to Sandakan.
However, internally, the place is still the same as the general raised wooden walkways to the feeding areas here.
The feeding platforms is still the same and this is the best place to observe these Orangutans that are undergoing rehabilitation.
I remember a few years ago, one of the Orangutans that was released, kept coming back to the centre, all because the food was there and he got accustomed to this way in life.
Not accepted back, he roamed around the centre outskirts, often seen walking around the cafeteria and toilet areas. Asking the staff about this Orangutan, he had left the place in search of a new home.
I also found out that there was a group of international travel bloggers from the iAmbassador group heading here somewhere on the 13th or 14th November 2014 where they will explore Sabah's many places of interest, one of them is here at Sepilok and also the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre.
I would like to see how this place moves them and how they pen their story here. It would be a dead giveaway if some of them narrowed down on the Orangutan Appeal program on adopting an orangutan, but I'm curious on this with their overall campaign of #LoveSabah for this trip.
Conclusion
So, until my next visit here, which I do not know when I am hoping to do a product update somewhere soon.
Check out my earlier posting and also photos of these amazing primates from my inaugural trip to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.