Orangutan mothers, like their human counterparts, are role models for their offspring. Orangutan mothers provide protection for their young and teach them the survival skills they need for an independent life in the wild.
It takes about 7- 8 years before young orangutans mature and become fully independent. In the first few years of life, an orangutan infant is very much dependent on its mother. Even Quentin, who is now 4 years old, is still very dependent on his mother, Queen and relies on her to teach him the skills he needs and to keep him safe.
On a recent routine camp visit, Queen and Quentin were seen near the camp, taking shelter from the midday sun in the shade of the trees. For the most part, Quentin stayed close to his mother, but occasionally he ventured a little further away to explore. Like other young orangutans, Quentin is very curious, likes to play, but will whine or cry if Queen moves too far away. Meanwhile, as a mother, Queen shows Quentin how to improve his survival skills and patiently watches over him while he practices all the while ensuring that he is safe.
At Camp Buluh, Lamandau Wildlife Reserve, a variety of forest foods are available for orangutans to feast upon, like young stems, leaves, bark, termites, and wild fruits. By following Queen’s lead, Quentin is learning to locate, identify, and obtain these natural foods so that he can forage by himself when the time comes to leave his mother and live independently. Queen is also teaching Quentin valuable social skills through their play and interactions.
After they had finished eating, the mother-son pair moved to the riverbank. Queen drank from the river and Quentin, who also appeared to be thirsty, seemed to motion to his mother for some water. It was then time to find somewhere new to rest and Queen bravely carried Quentin across the river. Queen placed Quentin on her back so he would not get wet, and there he remained in a safe position. Calmly but deftly, Queen managed to carry Quentin across the river.
Watching Queen, we can definitely learn something about her love for Quentin. Queen’s love for Quentin is immeasurable. It was incredible to see Queen in action, teaching her offspring life skills while keeping him safe. We are very pleased to see this behaviour from mother Queen.
