Orangutan Diary

Michaela Strachan and Steve Leonard present the first of five programmes featuring orphaned and rescued orangutans in Indonesian Borneo. As the day begins, Steve heads up river where he rescues a tiny orangutan being kept illegally as a pet. Back at the rescue centre she's named Ellie and takes her place alongside the other orphans. Meanwhile, Michaela visits the forest school where the young orangutans are trained in climbing, feeding and socialising - skills their mothers would have taught them in the wild. The day comes to a dramatic end as Steve attempts to rescue an adult orangutan from a fragment of forest destined for destruction. After being shot with an anaesthetic dart, the orangutan must fall more than 50 feet into a net. It's touch and go whether the mission will succeed.

The second instalment of the dramatic story of rescued and orphaned orangutans in Borneo. All over the island, their forests are being destroyed and being replaced with palm oil plantations. Michaela Strachan and Steve Leonard help baby orangutans Lomon, Grendon and Ellie learn how to behave like wild orangutans. It's a tough job - six years of love and education that their mothers would have provided in the wild. Lomon is one of the weakest orphans of all - when a serious virus starts to spread at the centre, Michaela fears that he may not survive.

The third instalment of the dramatic wildlife soap featuring rescued and orphaned orangutans. With Michaela Strachan and Steve Leonard. There's tragedy at the rescue centre when a newly arrived baby fights for its life. Michaela hopes for the best and is encouraged when her favourite orphan Lomon finally starts to make some progress. Meanwhile, Steve helps out at 'Forest School'; the place where young orangutans like Grendon and Ellie learn the skills that will equip them for a life in the wild. As the school day ends there's a dramatic interruption - a female orangutan is giving birth back at the rescue centre. Qualified vet Steve rushes to help.

Michaela Strachan and Steve Leonard present a series featuring orphaned and rescued orangutans in Borneo. They are encouraged by the progress of Grendon, Ellie and Lomon, the orphaned baby orangutans being re-trained for a life in the wild. The day comes to a dramatic conclusion when Steve travels out to rescue a tiny baby orangutan being illegally held in a village. The villagers are determined to hold on to the baby, and it's the most emotionally-charged rescue the team has experienced.

Michaela Strachan and Steve Leonard present a series featuring orphaned and rescued orangutans in Borneo. Steve rescues a big female who has dislocated her ankle fleeing from her captors. Back at the centre, there's better news for Michaela when she sees her favourite little orphan Lomon has finally learned how to climb a tree. There's also a moving conclusion to the story of Zorro - a huge male orangutan who spent 13 years in a tiny cage before being released on to a forested island.