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Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender in the orangutan breeding station at the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre
Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka / dpa
Seeing orangutans was the hope of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender when they visited the Semenggoh Wildlife Center in the Malaysian part of the island of Borneo.
However, it was not planned for the animals to come so close to them.
Steinmeier, 67, had to break off a statement for journalists with a summary of his Southeast Asia trip at the request of the game warden on Saturday and go to a safe distance.
The reason: Orangutan Edwin, one of the stateliest specimens at the breeding station, was heading towards him.
"It hasn't happened to me either, but it couldn't either, because I've encountered this species for the first time," Steinmeier said afterwards.
They ate papayas
He did not perceive the encounter as threatening.
But: "Those who are more familiar with the animals and their behavior here have advised that one should not seek an argument," he said and laughed.
Before that, he and his wife had watched the animals being fed.
The orangutans ate bananas, papayas and pineapples with relish.
Steinmeier had been in the East Asian state of Malaysia since Thursday.
During talks in the capital Kuala Lumpur on Friday, he and Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed the two countries' intention to further expand their economic and political ties.
jpz/dpa