Orangutan Beni Tries to Conquer Food Temptations

At the Nyaru Menteng jungle school, it's a new day and time for class. At the group one and two dorms, Valentino's back on gate monitor duty and Chinta's first out for the older kids. But some aren't allowed out of their cages this morning. Forest school three student Lanting and group two student Kajora seem upset to not be let out with their friends because they have an appointment with the vets. Both students had cuts on their hands and this morning should be their final checkup. Lanting had his stitches recently removed while Kajora's wound is pretty much healed. She's really just providing emotional support for little Lanting as the vets check his cut. He hates the saline wash. Perhaps he's playing to his audience. After the cleanup, they're off. But the daily excitement has only just begun. Today, Kajora gets to visit Lanting's group three class and she's not alone. Svenja, Lala and big belly Benny are also on the field trip roster. These youngsters are the most advanced group two students. Today is a trial run to see how they'll cope in a new class. Forest group three has moved to a brand new location, a much longer walk than these kids are used to. On the platform in a ferny grotto, breakfast is served to all. Lala bags herself a prime spot right next to the fruit basket. But Benny's got his eyes on her. Her first lesson this morning is always be vigilant with your breakfast banana. Benny's the forest school fruit hog. Even with all appendages full, he doesn't waste any opportunity to steal fruit. At three years old, he's already heavier than a group five student. Benny's come a long way since he first arrived at jungle school. When he was two years old, he was found alone climbing a cell phone tower. Local police rescued him and he was brought to Nyaru Menteng. Back then, he had skinny arms and legs, but the community that found him reported that he already had a love of guavas and bananas. Now, Benny enjoys an endless supply of fruit, which may not be a good thing. His expanding girth has forced his babysitters to reduce his banana intake and put him on a diet with an emphasis on leafy greens. An obese orangutan would have trouble climbing and a very difficult life in the wild. Like humans, Benny's also at risk of developing heart disease. He puts up with leafy greens occasionally, but takes every opportunity to revert to his old ways. He spies a milk bucket group forming. And while babysitter Ursula is distracted, Benny makes a roll for it. He dives right in for a mouthful of rich milk. But his escapade is short-lived. The babysitters will have to keep a keen eye on this milk thief if he's to lose any weight. Back on Bangamat Island, it's time for round two of Operation Catch Kasper. The capture team locates him in a more open part of the forest. The sparse trees here make for an easier shot than yesterday when Kasper was in the dense jungle. But the king's a long way up. The sniper's aim is true, and Kasper lets the team know he's not happy. He tosses away the dart and climbs higher. But with a heavy sedative working its way through his body, this is dangerous. It can take less than 10 minutes for the sedative to take effect, so the capture team must act fast. 200-pound Kasper poses a much greater challenge for the net setup than most release candidates. The net must be kept extremely taut to break Kasper's fall. And if it isn't high enough off the ground, Kasper could still hit the forest floor when he falls. An impact from this height could prove fatal. As the sedative kicks in, King Kasper transforms from a hulking brute into a gentle giant. The capture team secures the net using the framework of an old feeding platform to give it some extra height. But as they make a last-second adjustment, the net slips at the worst possible moment. This could have been devastating, but the team's lightning reflexes have helped break Kasper's fall and saved his life. The vets urgently check him. If he has even one broken bone, it could drastically delay his return to the wild. Their initial examination suggests nothing's broken, but they won't know the full story until he's checked out back at base. As a precaution, vet Marios gives him an anti-inflammatory shot. This will help reduce potential swelling and ease any pain from the fall. They're not out of the woods yet, though. The team must get the king to the transfer truck waiting at a nearby village before the sedative wears off. And Kasper's already stirring in his sleep. If he regains consciousness in transit, he could topple the tiny boat. Vet Marios keeps a close eye on his charge as they race off to the village.