The Orang-utan (Malay term meaning Jungle Man) is an instant crush for anyone who sees it in its natural habitat. Cute, adorable and disturbingly human–like. Scientists have equally been charmed by them.

"It is one of the most appealing animals on earth," Dr. William V. Bleisch, China Programme Co-ordinator remarked, after a recent trip to Sabah.

The remaining population of this fascinating primate on planet earth are found only in Borneo and Sumatra these days. Not surprisingly, Sabah ( formerly British North Borneo ) is the best place in the world to see the Red Ape because of a carefully planned conservation programme dating back to the 1930's. This is the world famous Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, which is a well conserved 10, 000 hectres ( 43 sq. km ) tropical lowland rainforest sanctuary where scores of the primate roam and mate freely. World’s figures like Prince Philip had been there, as well as former Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau.

The best zoo in the world can never match seeing them in the natural jungle environment. It is the only Asian primate which builds nests by characteristically bunching leaves and twigs together, scores of metres above the ground and sleep there at night.

Sighting at close range at Sepilok is guaranteed.

The best chance to see them are 10:00 am or 2:30 pm, when at least a dozen of the animals emerge for the twice daily feedings of milk and bananas.

Getting there is easy, as the Centre is only 25km northeast of Sandakan, which has good air links from Kota Kinabalu and local transport.

To get the most out of the experience, especially if you come a long way to see it, one American visitor advised: " Watch the documentary about the ape at the visitors’ centre before feeding time: " It greatly helped me appreciate what I saw, " he said.