Kusasi, Famous Orangutan King at Camp Leakey Card

The PBS television documentary special "From Orphan to King" tells the story of this very extraordinary orangutan, Kusasi. Sadly, after all of these years, the inevitable was looming at the time of this photo: the end of Kusasi's very lengthy reign. When I went to Camp Leakey with Dr. Birute Mary Galdikas in June 2008, Kusasi was badly injured by a challenger to the throne. As an adult, Kusasi has limped back to the area where Camp Leakey employees are stationed only when in need of medical help. The evening that I took this photograph, I gasped when I first saw him for I was stunned by his injuries. The pink area on his scalp is a wound, and there is a piece of his lower lip that is hanging as well. I offer this photograph as a piece of wildlife history and a tribute to this extraordinary orphan king. One of Birute Galdikas's books, Reflections of Eden, discusses Kusasi at length. The entire book is interesting! * * * * * * * UPDATE as of January 31, 2008: Kusasi is still alive, but he is avoiding the younger and now more dominant male. Update June 2010: Kusasi is still alive but rarely seen any more. There is a new King. <Update> Summer 2011: Kusasi has not been seen for some time. We believe he has died.