A VIDEO clip of an orangutan helping itself to drinks from a refrigerator at a cafe in Sepilok, Sabah, has gone viral.
The amusing and lighthearted incident was captured on video yesterday and posted on Facebook by Arthur Chung of the Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) on the east coast of Sabah.
The orangutan climbed down from a tree and went to the café in the centre. It opened a fridge and helped itself to the bottled drinks inside and food before escaping.
The orangutan is called “Boogie” and is a resident in the orangutan sanctuary.
Chung, an entomologist, wrote in jest about the incident: “Due to the extremely hot weather today, an unexpected guest dropped by at the Keruing Café in RDC, Sepilok, and helped himself with the cold drinks and later left with some food.”
Chung heads the Forest Research Centre and Rainforest Discovery Centre under the Sabah Forestry Department.
The 28-second video of the orangutan was taken by a staff member of the centre, Welfred Yudot, who happened to be at the café when the incident occurred.
Orangutans belong to the great ape family along with gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos. These majestic red-haired primates are renowned for their cognitive abilities and striking displays of problem-solving abilities.
Chung said the RDC may set up some small pools of water in forests during the current hot spell.
Since the start of the year, Sabah has been experiencing hot spells with temperatures reaching 40°C at times due to the El Niño phenomenon, forcing state authorities to carry out cloud seeding operations to replenish its water resources.
Rainfall has been recorded since late April, but the hot weather persists until today.
The video clip has garnered over 500 views since it was uploaded. – The Vibes, May 11, 2024
