Dylan has written the below creative story about the plight of a young Orangutan called Akki. He would like to develop a series of short stories for young people told from an endangered animals point of view. We may perhaps look into how we can make these into ebooks when we get the time. Let us know if anyone knows an illustrator who would like to work with Dylan on this project, as he has many ideas for the rest of the series!

Enjoy his first story!

Book 1 – Akki the Orangutan’s story

“TIMBER!’’

I looked around wondering what that sound was. This sound was unlike anything I have heard before.

I snuggled up to my mother, scared about what was to happen next. I looked at my friend Suru’s tree, but it was not there. I looked up at my mother, she had noticed too and I could see there was fear in her eyes!

We climbed down the tree as fast as we possibly could and ran to Suru’s tree! I was worried about what had happened to my poor friend. Eventually, we got there! I could see Suru’s tree lying on the forest floor in a cloud of dust. I looked around for her everywhere – it took me a few minutes but eventually I found her. She was lying on the ground, face up, eyes closed. I ran to her worried. When I got there I shouted “Suru!” But she did not wake up. I felt a tear rush down my face as I realised she would never wake up again… The crowd were silent, not a sound was made. My mum slowly pulled me up and told me “Lets go back Akki” so we slowly walked back not speaking a word to each other.

I was sobbing on the top branch of my tree hugging my mum. For a moment everything went quiet, I was savouring the moment, holding on to my mum.

“TIMBER” it went again!

This time lots of trees all came crashing to the forest floor, one after the other! My mum looked at me and said “Run Akki! Run! Don’t look back!” I did as my mum said and climbed as fast as I could down the tree and then ran. I ran as fast and far as I could! As I exited the rainforest I disobeyed my mum’s command and looked back. Where was everybody? I could still see my tree standing high through the haze, but then I heard a creak and it was gone, crashing to the ground. Tears rushed down my face, I turned around and ran and ran.

Eventually, after running for what felt like days, I found a tree. It was surrounded by a fence which I quickly climbed over. I decided to make this tree my home. All around this home there were lots of small humans screaming, running around, sliding down tubes and playing in pits of sand. They where swinging back and forth on a rubber seat connected by a chain, just like I use to do in the branches with my friends in the forest. The little humans would come up to me and offer me fruit but I never ate it, I was too sad. They would also look at me amazed, laughing and point at me, which made me scared. I hated it so much!

Eventually, many days later I decided that I would try to go back to the rain forest to find a tree to make my new home, and I would search for my mum.

I was missing my mum and Suru, but I knew I would never see her again. After a long walk I got to where I remembered my home to be. I was confused, where was I? Everything was different, I could not hear the birds chirping, the monkeys playing or see the huge, green, beautiful tree canopies. All I could see for miles around was rows and rows of palm trees.

After days of searching through the palm trees for my rainforest, I climbed one of the palm trees to rest and saw that my mum was up there. She was so happy to see me, we swung quickly towards each other and hugged for eternity!

My mum looked at me and said with a wide smile “Welcome home Akki”

But I knew I would never be home again…