They say education is for everyone. Well, in this case it includes animals too!
A ‘school’ designed for apes is now open for budding young apes to master the skills of climbing trees and plucking coconuts in Kampung Paya Rajin, Jerantut, Pahang!
Apparently, this special ‘school’ has actually been open for the past 10 years by a local resident who’s also an ape enthusiast, and the place is a favourite among ape owners across the state for its quality production of skillful apes, as reported by Harian Metro. The classes in this ‘school’ are conducted by local residents who also rare apes.
Source: Sinar Harian
Source: Sinar Harian
According to the principal of the ‘school’, Ibrahim Sood, 49, the ‘students’ are sent in by their respective owners to be trained since young. However, not all apes are accepted into the school. Apes will be evaluated based on their type and physical characteristics as it determines their attitude as well as their strength and ability to climb.
“Usually beruk bukit is easier to teach compared to beruk paya, which are a little lazy than the others, smaller built and not strong in climbing,” said Sood, who learnt the technique of teaching apes back in Kelantan.
Source: Sinar Harian
Apart from that, the number of lines on the palate of an ape symbolises the grade of the species. Moreover, another main criteria of an ape that entails good coconut-plucking skills is an ape that has ‘large hairstyles’ or ‘bojeng’.
“Apes will be located in specified cages which acts as their ‘hostel’ as the lessons are conducted throughout the day,” he added.
“Here, apes will be skilled in the abilities of twisting coconuts, differentiating old coconuts from new coconuts, and being agile in climbing coconut trees. In a span of a week, the ‘students’ will be equipped with the knowledge of twisting coconuts and by the age of 4 and above, they are able to climb coconut trees,” Sood explained.
Source: Sinar Harian
Besides classes and practices, the health and nutrition of the apes are well taken care of too. They will reportedly be brought to the veterinary if any of them fall sick.
Sood also said that meat is not fed to the apes as it will affect the quality of their fur, thus leading it to shed fur.
According to Sood, since there is high demand of coconuts in the current market, skilled apes are bought and sold within a range of RM1,000 to RM3,000 per ape.
Well, we sure hope that more furry students will be enrolled in the school in the future!
Also read: Kind Malaysian Saves and Cares for Stray Dogs Despite Religious Taboos
