Thank you Stephen and Farewell!

Tal B and Brigitta thank you very for your monthly donations and thank you Anne K for your donation of $100. It was Stephen's leaving do (My Fun In The Forest Is Drawing To An End) on Saturday night - we await the photos! Meanwhile here's a selection of photos of Stephen at 'work'.

Wishing you all the best for the future Stephen,

Orangutan Foundation - UK office

Orangutan release

Asleep

Another hard day at the office

Stephen skydive

Not sure if this is taken before of after Stephen's skydive in an orangutan suit - after I think!

Stephen and Mr Hudi

Stephen and Mr Hudi

sneaky snacks

Kusasi operation 2

Operation on the adult male orangutan Kusasi

Stephen Brend with Zidane

Stephen and Zidane

Stephen up the radiomast

Stephen climbing up a radio mast

Stephen Brend

Stephen and rehabilitated orangutan

You'll be missed!

Orangutan gaining weight

Dr. Fikri, our new vet who works specifically for the released orangutans in Lamandau Wildlife Reserve, put orangutan Zidane on a special weight gain diet last month. We are happy to tell you that Zidane has gained 3 kg and he is getting stronger each day. Our on-going protection for Lamandau continues with regular patrols, and this month, the patrol team led by Pak Jak (Patrol Manager of Lamandau Ecosystem Conservation Partnership) installed billboards on all the Lamandau guard posts to help enforce no-burning in the Reserve. (This short update was sent by June Rubis, who is taking over from Stephen this month)

Matthew K, thanks as always for your monthly donation.

Many thanks,

Cathy - Orangutan Foundation

Another encounter with a crocodile.

I don’t know what is going on this year. It seems crocodiles are keeping us busier than orangutans: this weekend’s little extra curricula activity was dissecting a large saltwater crocodile that died after being caught in a fisherman’s net. Crocodylus porosus

Stephen and Mr Hudi with the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).

An already unpleasant task was made more so by the fact that, by the time the crocodile arrived in Pangkalan Bun, it was bloated and starting to decay. Miss Ully, our office manager who came along out of interest, caught one whiff of the crocodile and promptly vomited. I gagged twice during the dissection.

Crocodylus porosus

Saltwater crocodile (crocodylus porosus).

Despite the grimness it was actually an interesting exercise. The crocodile was very large – just over 4m. Its stomach was empty except for some stones which crocodiles often ingest to help with digestion, some seeds and a balled up fishing net. We will clean up the skull and put it on display in Tanjung Puting National Park's Visitor Information Centre alongside one from a Tomistoma.

While I can admit to the interest value, I also have to confess if that is my last involvement with crocodiles for a time I won’t be too upset.

Many thanks

Stephen

Saving orangutans in Indonesia

Orangutan Foundation and Yayorin recently hosted Jason Houston and William deBuys, photographer and writer for the conservation organisation RARE and below is a blog about their visit to Lamandau Wildlife Reserve, Kampung Konservasi and the surrounding village communities. http://www.rareconservation.org/blog/

Getting To Know Some Real Orangutan Characters!

Newman the orangutan was released at Camp Siswoyo however he currently prefers to hang around at a different camp in the Lamandau Wildlife Reserve, Camp Gemini. Bornean orangutan called Newman

Newman - Bornean orangutan

Newman is quite a “naughty” orangutan and camp staff have to be on their guard, especially around the door to the food supply. One morning Newman tried to open a closed door so the camp staff have affectionally nicknamed him “Kutu Camp” (in Indonesian 'kutu' means a fan or something you really like) for all his antics.

Currently every night, Newman sleeps around Camp Gemini, and early in the morning, he ambles after the staff for feeding. He knows that he’ll not get fed in camp, only at the feeding site. After the feeding, instead of heading off like the other orangutans, Newman then follows the staff back to camp to continue his daily routine, which includes annoying the camp staff! This is a light hearted story about one of the orangutans I have encountered so far, I hope to bring you some more soon.

Thank you,

Dr Fikri - Lamdandau Vet

Kampung Konservasi (March/April) - A new mobile library!

On Tuesday, 24 March 2009, Yayorin (Yayasan Orangutan Indonesia) received a wonderful donation of MOBIL BACA (mobile library) from PT Hino Motor Sales Indonesia (Hino) to support its education efforts, in areas close to orangutan habitat, in Central Kalimantan Indonesian Borneo. Bus - mobile educational unit and library

Mobil Baca - Kampung Konservasi's new bus.

Hino has already donated similar buses to other NGOs in Indonesia, and this year Yayorin was chosen as one of the recipients. The bus was specifically made to suit Yayorin’s need, and is equipped with seats in front and book shelves at the back.

The hand-over ceremony took place in Sampit, a bigger city, which is a four hour drive from Pangkalan Bun. Mrs. Aulia Reksoatmodjo, a board member of Yayorin and Togu Simorangkir, Yayorin Director attended the ceremony. Hino presented Yayorin with a symbolic key, while Yayorin showed its appreciation by giving Hino a carved orangutan wood statue.

Key Presentation

Presentation of the symbolic key to Yayorin.

Presentation parade

Presentation parade

The bus will hopefully start operating this month. We are looking forward to getting out on the road and distributing our conservation education message and materials to the local population.

Kampung Konservasi bus with Togu and Mrs. Aulia Reksoatmodjo

Mrs. Aulia Reksoatmodjo (on far left), a board member of Yayorin and Togu Simorangkir (far right), Yayorin Director.

Thank you,

Sally -Yayorin

Destruction of the Tripa Peat Swamp Forest - Orangutan Habitat

At the beginning of the 1990's the Tripa Swamp Forests, on the west coat of Aceh (island of Sumatra) had approximately 1,500 Sumatran orangutans. Sumatran orangutans are listed as critically endangered. Today, the remaining Tripa Swamps that are being converted to oil palm plantations contain only an estimated 250 orangutans. It is crucial for the future of the Sumatran orangutan species to save this population's precious habitat. Adult Male Sumatran Orangutan

Adult Male Sumatran Orangutan.

Please take some time to watch this video Destruction of the Tripa Peat Swamp Forest (Aceh) made by PanEco. It was filmed in the Tripa region of Aceh Sumatra. It features local people voicing their concern about the impact of the palm oil business on their daily lives.

Ian Singleton, Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme's (SOCP) Director of Conservation, blogged about the situation in Tripa in November. Read his post Save The Tripa Swamps to find out more.

Thank you.

Ambassadors For Orangutans

Part of the Orangutan Foundation's Education Programme in the UK involves us giving regular talks to schools, universities and social groups. As we are a small but very busy team it was decided to set up a network of local "ambassadors" who would be willing to speak about orangutans and our work on our behalf. Well, we were overwhelmed by the response that we received. 15 Orangutan Foundation members, from all over the country came to our London office on Saturday.

Briefing Day at OF office

Everybody was extremely knowledgeable about orangutans, the current situation and our work, with most people having visited where we work in Borneo either through a Discovery Initiatives Study Tour or the Volunteer Programme.

Orangutan Foundation Display

We spent the whole day arming our orangutan "ambassadors" with information, PowerPoint presentations and lots of other helpful materials.

Ambassador Day at Orangutan Foundation UK office

This blog is also an enormous help and useful resource for keeping people up to date. Six other people have also confirmed they want to be ambassadors but they couldn't make it to the briefing day, so in total we have 21 Orangutan Foundation Ambassadors!

It was a truly inspirational day for us at the office and we would like to thank everyone who came on Saturday.

Lisa B thank you very much for your recent donation ($50 to us and $20 to Wildlife Direct) it is much appreciated.

Donation of digital cameras!

Stephen and June left for Lamandau Wildlife Reserve yesterday morning and will be in the field until early next week. Kees and Rachel thank you very much for your offer to bring out two digital cameras in May. We would be extremely grateful for these and all the other bits (wires, cables etc..) you mentioned as well. We really do need them for Lamandau so I've forwarded your email to the Indonesia office in order that this can be arranged.

Brigitta thank you for your latest donation!

Many thanks,

Cathy - Orangutan Foundation

Forest regeneration at Pondok Ambung - a year after the fires.

About a year ago, almost seven hectares of forest behind the Pondok Ambung Research Station was burnt to the ground (see post Fires in Tanjung Puting National Park). This was attributed to human carelessness (not the Pondok Ambung staff, we should note!), and favourable dry conditions. A burnt forest patch however, when left alone, regenerates and a vegetation survey was conducted in February 2009, at the burnt area, to see what had indeed grown back. Field manager for Pondok Ambung, Mr. Devis, noted that the dominant plant types in the recovering burnt area are the ferns, or more specificially the Gleichenia linearis (tree fern) and Lycopodium cernuum (club moss).

Lycopodium cernuum (club moss)

Lycopodium cernuum (club moss)

The grasses and sedges are also growing back (Digitaria ischaemum, Sorghum halepense, Pennistrum purpureu, Eleocharis parvula, Cyperus kyllingia, Cyperus distans and Cyperus paniceus), along with the shrubs (Melastoma malabathricum, Ochthocharis borneensis, Achasma coccineum Val. Blumea balsamifera).

The trees as well are making a comeback (Schima wallichii korth, Garcinia sp, Rhodamina cinerea, Eugenia sp, etc.). The evergreen tree (Schima wallichii korth) dominates the rest of the tree types.

Schima wallichii korth

Schima wallichii korth is the dominant tree species

It’s not just good news for vegetation – the newly growing area is also attracting deer who favour open habitats for grazing.

Deer hoof mark

Deer track

We will continue to monitor the changes of this recovering burnt area. With each new seedling pushing its way through the soil, one is reminded that this damaged patch of forest, as with the other fire-damaged forests elsewhere in Borneo, could come back to life, if it is left alone.

Forest just after the fire

The forest just after the fire.

One year later the forest is recovering.

Forest recovery one year on. All photos by Devis Rachmawan.

Thank you very much Nicole D and Tal B for your recent donations. We are currently trying to raise $250-300 to buy two digital cameras (see post Meet our new vet for the orangutans of Lamandau Wildlife Reserve).

Thank you,

June Rubis

Reply to recent comments

Thank you for all your recent comments on this blog. Super, thank you Brigitta for translating the Rainforest Education Pack and Teacher's Notes. If you don't mind sending us a copy of the CD that would be great. Please can you send it to: Orangutan Foundation, 7 Kent Terrace, London, NW1 4RP, UK. As always Brigitta, many thanks!

Paula you asked about the global economic melt down. Yes, it is affecting us and everyone, everywhere or so it seems. However, in the spirit of ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ the slow down has reduced investment in the oil palm and mining sectors and, like other commodities, the price of oil palm has dropped. There is virtually no plantation development taking place in our area at the moment.

Sheryl you commented that "Zidane looks better but he still has this sorrowful look in his eyes". Many orangutans have that look; I personally think it is to do with their dark pupils and the wrinkles around their eyes. However, if you think “curious” rather than sorrowful I am sure you will be convinced that is what it actually is.

Rosa -orangutan eyes

orangutan eyes - curious or sorrowful? Photo by Rosa Garriga.

Thanks,

Stephen

My fun in the forest is drawing to an end…

This post has two parts, a fun story and a sad one. I'll start with the fun one first. Last Sunday’s day out, when I caught up with orangutan Zidane at Camp Buluh, wasn't all plain sailing. As we headed up to Camp Buluh our speedboat hit a submerged log. This happens fairly often and is normally no big drama. On Sunday, however, we hit the log end-on and split it with the result the speedboat’s propeller ended-up stuck fast in the V formed by the split wood. Try as we might, we could not free the boat. The only thing for it was to get in the water. Without really thinking, the driver and I jumped in. Bracing one foot on one side of the V and pulling at the other side I tried to open the gap while the driver pushed the engine free.

Makes sense doesn’t it?

Stephen in deep water

In case you can't make out the red writing it reads - 'uncomfortably, deep, dark water!'

I had not been in the water many minutes before I suddenly remembered the crocodile attack from earlier in the year! That water is very, very black. And deep. All of which can really set your imagination into overdrive: I was very happy to climb back on board.

The second, sad piece of information is that I won’t be telling you many more of these stories. Our day out was part of my handover: in April I will be leaving Indonesia, hopefully to return to University to study veterinary medicine.

June Rubis at Pondok Ambung

June Rubis at Pondok Ambung Tropical Forest Research Station.

Pak Hudi

Mr Hudi Dewe above and below.

Mr Hudi

The good news is that two great people are taking over from me: June Rubis from Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo) and Mr. Hudi Dewe from Java. Both have years of experience behind them and will no doubt keep this blog flowing. I welcome them both to the Orangutan Foundation.

Many thanks,

Stephen

Zidane, a hairier and healthier orangutan

On Sunday we were back at Camp Buluh, one of our orangutan release camps in the Lamandau Wildlife Reserve, where we caught up with the orangutan Zidane. He is still very thin but his hair is coming back and, most importantly, he was bright-eyed and very active. Zidane - male Bornean orangutan

Zidane - a healthier looking orangutan.

He watched me wash my hands and then sidled over for a drink. A more boisterous orangutan (like Barita who was watching from a distance) would have tried to snatch the bucket himself but not Zidane, he waited for the water to be scooped out and poured into his mouth.

Stephen Brend with Zidane

Zidane (orangutan) and Stephen.

Barita - Male Bornean Orangutan

Barita - the more bositerous orangutan.

Zidane - male Bornean orangutan

Sheryl asked what was involved in a “weight-gain” diet. Because Zidane readily drinks milk, Dr. Fikri has bought a supply of high-protein/high-carbohydrate formula. On top of that, the staff are making sure he eats whenever he wants to and so carry extra rations just for him. The trick is in balancing the amount of nutritious formula he receives against giving him too much, which will end up acting as an appetite suppressant. It is important that he keeps on eating.

If you can help us purchase digital cameras for Mr Tigor (Orangutan Reintroduction Programme Manager) and Dr Fikri (new Lamandau vet) we would be most grateful. I simply can not get into Lamandau often enough to monitor Zidane and the other orangutans' progress but, like I am sure you do to, I am keen to see how they are getting on.

Many thanks,

Stephen

Zidane watching as we leave. All photos by Astri Siregar

Zidane - male Bornean orangutan

The Rainforest Education Pack

Linda you recently asked about activities to educate zoo visitors about orangutans. I would like to recommend the Orangutan Foundation's Rainforest Education Pack which focuses on orangutans. Although it is aimed at primary school level it has many activities (e.g. nest building, masks, quiz) which could be used or adapted for use in zoos. Matthew K and Brigitta S. thank you for your monthly donations your regular support is extremely important to us.

A quick reminder that the Big Give www.thebiggive.org.uk are still doubling every pound donated to Orangutan Foundation through their matched funding page on their charity website. There has been an outstanding response so far with over £14,000 having been donated. When doubled, this amounts to £28,000! We are hugely grateful to everyone who has taken advantage of this scheme.

As always thanks for your support and interest,

Cathy - Orangutan Foundation

Volunteer for orangutans

Recently we've received a few comments enquiring about volunteer work with orangutans or other great apes. The Orangutan Foundation's Volunteer Programme offers individuals the chance to become involved in conservation fieldwork and see ex-captive and, hopefully, wild orangutans. The work is of manual construction/ labouring nature but it is vital to our conservation work and carried out in orangutan habitat. There are still a couple of places remaining for this year's programme, which will be based in the Belantikan Arut region of Indonesian Borneo. The duration of the programme is six weeks. All participants must be a member of the Orangutan Foundation, at least 18 years of age, in good health and prepared to undertake manual work. Living conditions are basic and very remote. The cost of taking part in the programme is £730. This payment covers all accommodation, food, and materials for the duration of the programme but does not include international and internal travel to the project site. It should be noted that particpants will not have direct contact with orangutans. For more information on the programme please see our 2009 Volunteer Programme brochure on our website. If you have any further questions or would like to apply then please contact ELLY at the Orangutan Foundation office (elly@orangutan.org.uk or 0044 (0)207 724 2912) for more detailed information.

Megan, as you're 12 years old you are too young for our programme. Don't be disheartened though as there is still a lot you can do to help! Consider organising a fundraising or awareness event at your school, social club, or with your friends. Maybe you could ask a relative to foster an orangutan for you as birthday present. Become involved with a local conservation or wildlife charity who may have volunteer days you can become involved with. As we discovered with our Orange for Orangutan Day - every little act helps to make a difference. (For your diary: the next Orange for Orangutan Day is Thursday 12th November 2009 and information will be available on our website soon)

Meet our new vet for the orangutans of Lamandau Wildlife Reserve

Please meet Dr. Fikri, our new vet, for the orangutans in Lamandau Wildlife Reserve. Dr Fikri and Tigor

Mr Tigor our Orangutan Reintroduction Programme Manager, is on the left (reluctant to stand still and smile!) and Dr Fikri is on the right.

Dr Fikri is a graduate from the prestigious Bogor Agricultural Institute, Indonesia and, as part of his work experience, spent six months at the Orangutan Care Centre & Quarantine in 2004. His last job was vaccinating poultry against bird flu. While he felt it was a necessary task (the bird flu epidemic continues here) he says he could not wait to get back to wildlife work.

Lamandau Vet Clinic

Dr Fikri's clinic in Lamandau.

Vet Accomodation - Lamandau

Accomodation

With funding from the Gemini Foundation we have established a small clinic and accomodation for him at Camp Gemini (again, generously funded by the Gemini Foundation), which is the most central of our five release camps, and we are in the process of acquiring all the necessary anaesthetics and other veterinary medicines. In the meantime, Fikri is being busy getting to know the orangutans. He has put Zidane on a special weight-gain diet. Zidane’s starting weight is 28kg and we’ll let you know as he improves.

I do have a request for you though. Please could you help us raise $250 - $300 that we need to buy two robust digital cameras? Tigor and Fikri require them for identifying orangutans and taking case photos. They promise to post their pictures on Wildlife Direct!

Here’s a sample of mine from my day out with them yesterday. I have no doubt Tigor and Fikri’s pictures would be better!

Thank you.

Ex-captive orangutan, Gorzitze

Gorzitze, an orangutan in Lamandau Wildlife Reserve.

Ex-captive orangutan, Queen and her infant

Released orangutan, Queen and her infant in Lamandau.

Video Clip Featuring Wildlife of Tanjung Puting

Very quickly, if anyone would like to see Tanjung Puting National Park, one of the protected areas in which we work, then a short video clip has been released by a German film company who made a film about Tomistoma crocodiles last year. The narration is in German (which will probably be OK for our Swiss friends :-) and an English translation to follow shortly) but the pictures speak for themselves. Its shows orangutans, proboscis monkeys and Pondok Ambung Research Station.Here is the link: http://www.br-online.de/bayerisches-fernsehen/welt-der-tiere/sunda-gavial-krokodil-sumatra-ID1234357757657.xml

Kampung Konservasi February Blog - Garbage!

The smoke from garbage burning started to hurt our eyes...million of flies swarmed around us...and the unmistakable aroma of garbage welcomed us as we drove into this local waste collecting location. A trash-picker moved quickly passed us toward the incoming yellow garbage truck; he wanted to be the first to find anything inside that he could sell. Garbage

Burning garbage at Pasir Panjang waste collection centre.

Student participating in Yayorin's environmental extracurricular activity seemed a little bit bewildered this afternoon. The main subject of today’s discussion was garbage – its role on the environment, its problems and management. It was obvious that they had never seen as much garbage in their lives and probably felt quite overwhelmed by it.

Most of the students did not even know that such place exists in their city. Many could not even say where the garbage they produced at home or at school went to. In the beginning, they were not happy being ”dragged” into this disgusting place and could not stand the smell. With the passing of time, though, they started to understand why we brought them there and involved entusiastically in the learning process.

Garbage

In this meeting we asked them to identify the types of garbage they could find in an area of 1m x 1m. They then had to identify which ones were organic and which were inorganic. They were also asked to pay attention to how the garbage was collected, transported and managed.

Garbage

The Pasir Panjang Waste Collecting Location is the largest in this city and its surrounding areas. This is where all of the waste of the city finally goes to. Unfortunately, like most garbage collecting locations in Indonesia, the concept of garbage management is through burning. What was ironic was the big sign we saw there that clearly said "Do Not Burn the Garbage"!

The students had a tour around the Location. They found an abandoned composting house, filtering pond and a monitoring well. The well was located about 50 meters from the collection area, and the water inside was quite clean. It was supposed to mean that the soil water was in good condition.

Garbage

The students took home with them a valuable learning experience. We hope that now they realise where their garbage goes, and how the waste can put a really heavy burden on the environment. Next time they want to throw their garbage on the street or anywhere else inappropriate, we wish they will stop and remember their unique experience at the ”garbage place”.

Thanks,

Riyandoko and Sally (Yayasan Orangutan Indonesian www.yayorin.org)

Double Our Funds For Orangutans

To celebrate the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin, a philanthropist organisation, The Reed Foundation, has promised to double any donations made to five different wildlife charities through its charity website www.theBigGive.org.uk. The Orangutan Foundation is delighted to be one of the chosen charities and donations will go towards our project 'Protecting Orangutans and Rainforest Biodiversity Through Carbon Markets' in the Belantikan Arut region of Central Kalimantan. On Monday 23rd February at 10am The Big Give will start doubling donations of £5 or more and they will finish when £50,000 has been spent. Please be as generous as possible on the 23rd February, when every donation can go twice as far to achieve our aims in the Belantikan Arut region of Central Kalimantan

Put a note in your diary or an alert on your mobile and just before 10am have your bankcard at hand and simply visit www.thebiggive.co.uk. There will be a 'Darwin's Natural Selection' link in the matched funding area of the Big Give.

The money will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, so it is important that you make your donations as soon as possible after the launch of the scheme. The last time The Big Give ran a scheme of this nature, they gave away one million pounds in 45 minutes!

Thank you!!

The People Who Look After The Orangutans

Having told you about Zidane, I thought you might be interested to learn a little about the people who are looking after him day to day. He and twelve other orangutans live around Camp Buluh which is supported by the Australian Orangutan Project and is one of six orangutan release camps the Orangutan Foundation operates in the Lamandau Wildlife Reserve. Six people are employed there; five field assistants and a cook. Their daily duties at Camp include preparing food and feeding the orangutans twice a day, monitoring the orangutans, keeping records, clearing trails, clearing the river and other camp tasks. Camp Buluh, like all the other Camps, comprises a kitchen and dining hall, sleeping block and toilet/washroom. Unlike the other camps though, Camp Buluh is totally surrounded by swamps. There is no dry ground anywhere near by. This does make following the orangutans difficult and especially so last year when there was no noticeable dry-season. Water levels varied from knee to waist deep for most of the year!

Camp Buluh Staff

The team at Camp Buluh

The Field Assistants generally spend 26 days at a time at Camp. Back in November (Bringing the office to our orangutan release camps) all the staff were enrolled in the Government's Health Insurance scheme which provides cover to both them and their families.

Huge thanks to the Camp Buluh team who do a fantastic job.