Bloody Mess in Sepilok, Sabah, East Malaysia

Emerging from the rainforest in Sepilok in the east  Malaysian state of Sabah, I congratulated myself on escaping from the clutches of the leeches.

But the moment I stepped into the orang-utan rehabilitation centre, four leeches launched themselves onto my feet, leg and even backside.

 Panicking at the thought of my life ebbing away, I pulled them out forcibly. For the next half hour, my feet and legs continued to bleed. Only my backside escaped unscathed as I was able to flick it away in the nick of time.

It was a bloody mess in Sepilok.

Showtime at Sepilok, Sabah, East Malaysia

Showtime over: Visitors heading into the rainforest.

Showtime over, the majority of the visitors made for the exit, jumped into their vehicles and rushed to their next destination much to the amusement of the great apes, the orang-utan, snuggling in the trees above. Humans are funny creatures, they must have thought.

A few visitors headed into the rainforest to discover its delights. And the leeches were lying in wait for a hearty meal.

Apes vs Monkeys in Sepilok, Sabah, East Malaysia

While our hairy cousins, the orang-utan, were feasting on the bananas, the monkeys were waiting patiently in the wings. They put on a great pretense of nonchalance, engaged in tomfoolery, perhaps to amuse the gaping audience of homo sapiens.

But the moment the great apes left the feeding platform, the monkeys, as if on cue, swung down from the trees all at once and scrambled for the leftovers. And naturally the stronger ones among them, looking like the human version of a body-builder, grabbed the lion's share of the fruit.

Huge crowd at Sepilok orang-utan sanctuary, Sabah, Malaysia

Orang-utan feast on bananas. The platform is set far from the gawking visitors to prevent the spread of disease (both ways).

 The sign says "Silence". Be silent in the presence of your long-lost cousins from the jungle on pain of being thrown to the orang-utan for a rare treat. Just pulling your legs: orang-utan are vegetarians.

 

 Humans from all corners of the world watched in awe and respectful silence at the great apes.

 

A boy scrambled for a closer look. It's conservation effort by Malaysia that helps to arrest the dwindling population of orang-utan. But the great apes remain a very endangered species. Their survival continues to be threatened by the loss of their habitat and pouching.