The Foundation’s veterinarians do not have the kind of work that is left at ‘the office door’! They are also on call for other biodiversity in Lamandau Wildlife Reserve..

This includes assisting BKSDA (the local governmental conservation agency), in monitoring confiscated animals on their journey back to the wild. In January, a Rhinoceros Hornbill and two gibbons have been cared for.

Though local awareness of conservation importance has improved thanks to the community outreach programmes, animal trafficking and the pet trade remain a wider issue. Logos in the soft-release programme is one such individual, who was confiscated in Java.

Ex-captive orangutans usually come to the Foundation as orphaned infants, without a mother to teach them survival skills. These individuals join the soft-release programme in Lamandau Wildlife Reserve, where they learn how to be an independent orangutan. This can take many years, as orangutans in the wild usually reach independence at approximately eight-years-old.

It is not just orangutans that are popular in the pet trade. Boby, an ex-captive female gibbon, was rescued with a very severe arm wound thought to be from a rope. In this case, unfortunately Boby’s wound was a risk to her health and her arm had to be amputated. Luckily, she made a full-recovery and was released into the safety of the reserve where she is doing well.

“The most common type of injury [in orangutans] is if the community captures an orangutan by themselves, they will tie it with a rope. The tie is so tight sometimes, that it can injure their arm or foot. If this happens, we have to treat the orangutan with antiseptic and antibiotics for the infection; or in the case of a recent gibbon rescue, the injury was so severe that it’s arm had to be amputated.” – Dimas, Veterinarian

Thanks to your support, and the tireless efforts of the veterinarians, we can help rescue animals from these situations and give them a second chance at life in the wild.