Bird watching in Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo

Sorry for the long silence. We thought you might like to see some photos taken in the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve ( in Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo) by our  intrepid Patrol Manager, Jakir. He took some fantastic photos of the birds who have come to nest at Danau Burung, where the Orangutan Foundation have a guard post.

Purple heron (Ardea purpurea)- © Orangutan Foundation

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)chicks - © Orangutan Foundation

Can you think of a good caption for this photo? © Orangutan Foundation

Great Egret (Casmerodius albus) © Orangutan Foundation

Great Egrets (Casmerodius albus) - © Orangutan Foundation

Thank you,

 Cathy - Orangutan Foundation Uk office.

Don't bank on deforestation help prevent it instead!

After the success of their campaign against Nestlé, who were sourcing unsustainable palm oil from companies including Sinar Mas, Greenpeace are now taking on the bank HSBC - read more and take action here. Greenpeace reveal that HSBC are providing financial services to Sinar Mas, which has expanded its operations around the Danau Sentarum National Park (DSNP) in West Kalimantan. The Orangutan Foundation's Volunteer Programme will be working in Danau Sentarum with the Indonesian N.G.O., Titian Foundation, this September for six weeks.

The wetlands of Danau Sentarum © Titian Foundation

DSNP is a wetland of interconnected lakes surrounded by peat swamp forest in the upper Kapuas river basin, the most threatened habitat remaining for orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) in Indonesia. The Sentarum lakes and surrounding peat swamp wetlands are unique in Kalimantan, as they are Borneo’s oldest inland peat swamps at 12,000 years old. DSNp is also listed as a Ramsar [Convention on Wetlands of International Importance] site. Threats in the area are rapid conversion of orangutan habitat to oil palm plantations as well as, forest fires, illegal logging and hunting.

Bornean female orangutan and infant © Brian Matthews

If you want to get involved with our crucial conservation work then please contact us on info@orangutan.org.uk or telephone 00 44 (0)20 7724 2912.

Earth Day in Central Kalimantan, Borneo

Earth Day came and went, and the Education team (from the Indonesian NGO Yayorin) from our EC funded project in Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve made sure it didn't go unnoticed.

Our theme for Earth Day was "Menanam Pohon Untuk Mengurangi Panas Bumi" or "Planting Trees to Decrease Global Warming". We wanted to inform the community about climate change, and how we, as individuals and also as a community, can contribute to a better, sustainable environment.

The target for Earth Day was the community of Sukamara, a district of Central Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) and the youth group which the Orangutan Foundation facilitate, called Green Organization. The Education team spent a week in Sukamara prior to the event, to meet up with government and school officials to ensure that the Earth Day celebrations were a joint collaboration.

On Earth Daywe had a drawing competition for schoolchildren of various age groups at our EC-Lamandau project office in Sukamara. There were also environment games, including building a globe (out of sustainable materials). We encouraged the youth to build tree costumes out of boxes, and make up their own environment banners.

 Teachers and parents kindly volunteered their time to assist with these activities. An Earth Day parade mostly comprised of the youth from the Green Organization was organized, and everybody brought pails of water, of which they would spontaneously water the trees planted by the roadside. The idea is to inculcate the feeling of social togetherness and caring for the local environment. The soils in Sukamara are quite poor, and sandy and therefore, any trees, shrubs or plants in the community were 'celebrated' for being there.

The day ended with 124 individuals comprising of youth, government officials and villagers descending to Danau Burung nursery (also a guardpost manned by Orangutan Foundation and Forestry Department staff, that borders the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve) to plant at least 250 indigenous seedlings.

To thank the Green Organization youth who so enthusiastically volunteered their time to help and participate in Earth Day, we treated them to a well-deserved barbeque and an environment film screening.

Earth Day in Sukamara was hailed as a success by all, and we can't wait to start planning for the next year!

Thank you,

June Rubis

Orangutan Foundation Programmes Manager

Elephants take to the streets of London

If you are in London during May and June look out for hundreds of life-size model elephants.   Orangutan Foundation is thrilled to be part of London’s biggest outdoor art event, Elephant Parade London 2010, which is organised by the charity, elephant family

Eko, the Orangutan Foundation's elephant. Photo by Paul Kidby

Our beautiful elephant Eko (Indonesian for First born) is on display in Green Park. He was painted by Paul Kidby, the ilustrator of Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels and was generously sponsored by Le Pain Quotidien.

Watch this short news clip which features Eko in the closing shot and you can view all the elephants here.

Sign the online petition which calls for governments around the world to to sit up and recognize the urgency of the dire situation facing the Asian elephant and the other species that share its habitat.

Another Orphaned Infant Orangutan Adopted by Orangutan

I was recently in the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve to visit the guard posts and I dropped by Camp Rusak to check on orangutan Joanna and her new adopted baby last Friday (16th April 2010). Dr. Fiqri (the Foundation's vet) and Tigor (Orangutan Reintroduction manager) had told me that they were planning to release Joanna and her baby that day, and invited me to drop by - so I felt that it was a good opportunity to report back to this blog.

All photos were taken by Pak Jakir, our guard post supervisor.

female orangutan, Joanna and her new adopted baby © Orangutan Foundation

It only took one month for Joanna and the orangutan baby to bond - Dr Fiqri is very happy and felt confident that they would do well on their own.  She is very protective of her baby, yet also comfortable with Dr Fiqri and the rest of the camp staff .  When the orangutan baby first arrived from BKSDA, who had confiscated it from the owner, it only weighed 2 kg and it was 2 years old! It was malnourished, however, it thrived under Joanna's and Dr Fiqri's care, and as you can see, it has put on weight.

© Orangutan Foundation

Being released into the forest © Orangutan Foundation

We will continue to do our best to secure a safe future for Joanna and her new baby and we will be keeping a close eye on how they get on.

Please consider supporting our protectmeandmytree appeal - helping to keep orangutans in the wild.

Thank you,

June Rubis

Programme's Manager

Curious orangutan

Pak Jakir, our Patrol Manager, was on a patrol recently and came across an orangutan hanging about near Pos Seberang Gajah, in the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve . Jakir managed to take some fantastic photos and so we thought we'd share them with you.

Photo © Orangutan Foundation

Photo  © Orangutan Foundation

Photo © Orangutan Foundation

This guard post was established in 2008 to counterattack illegal logging in the eastern part of the reserve. The presence of orangutans is a good sign that the habitat is not being disturbed as it was in the past. It is most likely a rehabilitated orangutan, rather than a wild orangutan but nevertheless, if the habitat was still being continually disturbed, it is unlikely that we would see any orangutans.

Orangutan walking upright through the swamp forest - photo  © Orangutan Foundation

We also have news of another female orangutan, in the Lamandau River reserve, who has adopted an orphaned infant orangutan - news and photos to follow soon!

Thanks,

June  Rubis

Programmes Manager

Earth Day and Water Day

Below are some photos of our booth at the Earth Day & Water Day exhibition at Palangkaraya (Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo) on the 17th of April, 2010. The Orangutan Foundation hosted the exhibition with the government conservation agency, BKSDA (Agency for Conservation of Natural Resources) along with several other organisations.

The objective of the exhibition was to "voice out the caring, partnership and commitment from the community in the conservation of water, forest reserves, and sustainable natural resources."

There was a good turnout from the public, about 500 people. The children particularly enjoyed the orangutan mascot (as played by our Education Officer, Fadlik) and the environment films that were screened.

We distributed information about our EC-Lamandau project in the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve and talked to people about the importance of conserving the Reserve, not just for orangutans but also for local peoples. 

We are continuing our Earth Day celebration on the day itself, April 23rd, 2010 at Sukamara with our youth organization, Green Organization. Activities planned include planting seedlings at the Danau Burung Post at Lamandau Reserve, environment film screenings, talks, and other conservation activities. 

Thanks,

June Rubis

Donate to the Orangutan Foundation

First Orangutan Foundation Charity Golf Day

A charity golf day at the Welcombe Hotel in Stratford upon Avon was held on 27^th March to raise funds for the Protect me and My Tree appeal.  It’s the first time a golf day has been held for the Foundation and it raised £1572.

The day was organized by Foundation supporter Elaine Clueit.   Elaine went on the first photographic tour with Ian Wood in September 2008.  She was so moved by what she saw she came back determined to raise funds to help.

As well as raising funds the day was all about making sure that more people were aware of the palm oil issue.  Everyone was asked to wear orange if they could and the programme contained facts and figures about this issue.  Thanks to Little Satsuma everyone also received a gift of palm oil free soap.

There were some imaginative team names including The Durian Drivers and The Orang-e-tan Man Group.

 Golfers played for some fantastic prizes as well as taking part in a grand raffle and sweep stake.  Big thanks are due to the General Managers at Handpicked Hotels, Cliveden House, Stapleford Park, Salts Healthcare, Home and Away Lettings, Henley Golf Club, Darenth Valley Golf Course and Na Madrai Golf Society who all supported the event.

Na Madrai has also agreed to adopt the foundation as their first annual charity.

A golf day is a great way of raising funds – so if there are any other golfers out there, how about it?

Back where they belong!

Sorry for the long period of inactivity! Hudi, our Programme Co-ordinator in Indonesia sent through this short story about a sunbear and a pig-tailed Macaque.  

Belle, the sunbear © Orangutan Foundation

Saturday 13th of March 2010 was a special day for “Belle” a young female sunbear (Helarctos malayanus) and also for one pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina). After medical observation by Dr Fiqri (our Vet) and Tigor (our Reintroduction Manager ), Pak Eko Novi, the head of section II of the  Natural Resources Conservation Agency of Central Kalimantan (BKSDA SKW II Kalimantan Tengah) gave permission for both to be trans-located to the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve.

 

Sunbear and pig-tailed macaque going up river into the reserve © Orangutan Foundation

Carrying the cage out of the boat.  © Orangutan Foundation

Belle, about to be released. © Orangutan Foundation

The trans-location process went very smoothly. When the cage door was open by Pak Eko Novi the sunbear just walked out directly into the forest, she did not look back at us, unlike “Bruno”, the young male sun-bear, who we translocated a few months ago. He gave a surprise for all the people who trans-located him!

 

Straight out! © Orangutan Foundation

Back to the forest -wild and free! © Orangutan Foundation

Within a few minutes Belle had disappeared into the forest. However, we did have a surprise from the pig-tail macaque. A few minutes after the release the macaque came back to the longboat and then jumped into the water, swam across the river and then played on the opposite side of the river bank!

 

The pig-tailed macaque decided it wanted to be on the otherside of the river and why not? © Orangutan Foundation

Good to be back home! © Orangutan Foundation

Huge thanks to all of our dedicated staff and to our partners, who we work with in and around the reserve.

Please consider a donation towards our Protect Me and My Tree Appeal - raising vital funds for the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve.

Thank you!

Can palm oil help Indonesia's poor?

There has been much coverage of Indonesia's palm oil boom over the last week in the UK press and media.  Here are some of the links. Can palm oil help Indonesia's poor? - This radio programme was broadcast on Radio 4 last night, but is worth listening to on iplayer if you get the chance.

Green fuels cause more harm than fossil fuels, according to report

Orangutan survival and the shopping trolley

The Orangutan Foundation prides itself on keeping to the facts and we avoid sensationalist arguments. We acknowledge there are some companies who are acting responsibly and we applaud their efforts. However, many companies aren't and it is these and the Indonesian Government that must take action to stop the conversion of high conservation value forests into plantations.

Thanks,

Cathy - Orangutan Foundation UK office

Environmental Education in Indonesia

Over the past year, the education team has been extremely busy. It ran education and conservation programmes for 34 schools, 12 villages, 7 government agencies, and one oil palm company. The activities, which are part of our EC-funded programme,  highlight the need to conserve the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve for all stakeholders, including the younger generation.

School visits around the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve

© Orangutan Foundation 

Each school visit was evaluated with a quiz for the students to gauge how much information was absorbed. With this knowledge, the aim for 2010 is to concentrate on selected schools to give more thorough attention and time for each conservation education programme. One component was about learning how to separate waste for composting (bins were given to selected schools).

 One school (SMK N 1 Sukamara) was selected as a model to test out a new subject called ‘Ecological farming’ that puts emphasis on sustainable farming, using organic methods. Our community officer, Pak Roji, taught this subject for several months in this school upon approval from the local education district.

 

Encouraging student participation in environmental education © Orangutan Foundation. 

Soon there will be a meeting with the teachers to obtain their feedback, and to evaluate the effectiveness of this newly introduced subject. The new syllabus will be planned together with the teachers according to their needs.

Thank you to our regular donors, Matthew K, Tal B and Brigitta S - your continued support is more vital than ever. As our field costs (e.g. for running guard posts & patrols, orangutan monitoring and rescues, support for sustainable livelihoods and educational activities etc...)  increase we must maintain our commitment to these important programmes.

If you haven't already done so please consider making a donation to the Orangutan Foundation. 

With many thanks,

Cathy (Orangutan Foundation)

Reforestation in the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve

June Rubis, our Programmes Manager, has sent an update on our reforestation programme in the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve, Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. The internet connection from Pangkalan Bun, the town where our Indonesian office is based, is very slow and unreliable at the moment, so sending photos is proving a real challenge – all our staff in Indonesia deserve medals for their patience! Just quickly though we'd like to thank those who have recently left comments, especially Linda who mentioned our orangutan adoption programme. If you're interested in supporting our work in this way then please contact our partners, Care for the Wild International - adoptions make a wonderful gift!

Thanks also to Charmaine for giving our Volunteer Programme a plug!  We still have places available on Team 1, which runs from the 1st May to 12th June. If you want to visit Borneo, help in a direct and practical way and have an experience of a life time, then please get in touch with us.

Reforestation in the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve –by June Rubis

 In 2009, with funding from the European Commission, we have successfully rehabilitated 120.5 hectares (with 34,834 seedlings from indigenous plant species) within the Lamandau River Reserve.

 

Taking out Seedlings to be planted in the reserve

Seedlings

Carrying seeds to be planted

Filling polybags

Planting seeds into polybags

We have also planted 10,516 pinang species (type of palm) as a living reserve border at Sukamara. As well, we have planted 1200 seedlings at the 500 m buffer zone that surrounds the Reserve.

 

Watering seedlings during the dry season.

Planting seedlings into polybags

Transporting seedlings from Post Perapat.

Our current plans for 2010 include, rehabilitating up to 30 hectares of degraded land at the village forests outside the reserve. These are the same villages that we have been assisting in finding alternative sustainable livelihoods. The tree species chosen for this tree-planting project will be decided upon after discussions with the local communities.

All our thanks,

Orangutan Foundation

The Best Teacher and Best Mother for Orangutan is Orangutan!

Brian (adopted infant orangutan) and Rosa (the surrogate orangutan mother) are living in the forest surrounding Camp Gemini, in the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve. They are still being followed and monitored by two Camp staff (Utang and Winto). We met with them on Sunday not too far from the Camp, Rosa and Brian looked very happy. Brian was moving and swinging very friskily, up and down and he sometimes moved to other trees and then back again to Rosa.  The whole time Rosa keeping an eye on everything Brian did, if Brian had a problem Rosa went to help him. All Orangutan Foundation staff are very happy with Brian's progress, he is very quick to adapt to the forest.

Rosa is teaching Brian how to forage, she eats a few types of leaf and Brian is very clever to follow what Rosa does. He tries to reach the leaves by himself and eat them.  Meanwhile, Camelia (another young orangutan) watching Rosa and Brian, slowly moves closer to them. Brian gives a good response.

They play together and Brian follows Camelia, climbing to the top of the tree. In that moment there was a fantastic phenomenon shown by Camelia. She gave a lead to make a nest, Camelia broke the branch and made a nest for Brian. Rosa helped them to make the nest too. Slowly Brian reached for a small branch and broke it. Brian is very quick to learn and imitate everything he sees!

Many thanks to:

·       BKSDA Kalimantan Tengah (the  Natural Resources Conservation Agency of Central Kalimantan)

·       Mr. Eko Novi Setiawan the head of section II of the  Natural Resources Conservation Agency of Central Kalimantan (Kepala BKSDA SKW II Kalimantan Tengah),

·       Ibu Ashley Leiman OBE the Director of Orangutan Foundation UK,

·       Brian W. Matthews the Wildlife Photographer

·       Tigor Nainggolan the Lamandau orangutan Reintroduction Manager of Orangutan Foundation UK

·       Fiqri the Lamandau orangutan reintroduction Vet of Orangutan Foundation-UK

·       Uduk the Lamandau orangutan reintroduction Camp Coordinator of Orangutan Foundation-UK

·       Yatno for the Kijang pickup

·       All of Camp Siswoyo and Gemini Staff for the extraordinary jobs

Thank you to all our supporters who have given so generously to our 'Protect Me and My Tree Appeal' - your support is crucial in helping us to provide a safe and secure habitat for these orangutans.

Regards,

Hudi  WD (Orangutan Foundation Programme Coordinator)

Change a habit - save a habitat!

We are asking our supporters to make a positive start to 2010, and make their New Year’s resolutions really count by taking part in ‘Change a habit – save a habitat’. An idea which will benefit both you and us….and in theory it costs you nothing! Here's how it works: you choose a habit and change it (reduce it or stop it) and donate the savings made by doing this to the Orangutan Foundation.

Examples: Cut down on take away coffees – saving £2 per week = £8 a month Cut out a bottle of wine per week – saving £5 per week = £20 a month Stop smoking - one packet of cigarettes - saving £6 per week = £24 a month Reduce sweeties/chocolate – saving £1 per week = £4 a month Change your transport (walk it, cycle it) – saving £3 per week = £12 a month Take a packed lunch – saving £10 per week = £40 a month

Select an amount from the examples above or decide on your own monthly target.Contact the Orangutan Foundation to make your donation or donate through this blog and leave a comment telling us what habit you are going to try and change.

 Your donation will go towards our vital work protecting critical orangutan habitat.

Good luck and thank you,

Cathy - Orangutan Foundation (UK office)

Orangutan Rehabilitation and Reintroduction Workshop

Tomorrow sees the start of a 3 day workshop on orangutan rehabilitation and reintroduction at the Bogor Agricultural University, on the island of Java, Indonesia. The workshop will be attended by all stakeholders related to orangutan conservation issues but with a particular focus on those involved with rehabilitation and reintroduction. This includes, government agencies, private sector, academics, N.G.O.’s and individuals. Pak Hudi, (our Programme Coordinator), Pak Tigor (Lamandau Orangutan Reintroduction Manager), Dr Fiqri (Lamandau Orangutan Reintroduction Vet) and Pak Uduk (Lamandau Orangutan Reintroduction Camp Coordinator) left Kalimantan today to attend on behalf of the Orangutan Foundation. They will share the Foundation’s experience of successfully reintroducing and translocating orangutans into the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve. We are also sponsoring the participation of Pak Eko Novi (Head of section II of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency of Central Kalimantan) whom we work closely with in the Lamandau reserve.

Hudi will bring news on how the workshop went. We'd like to thank Lisa B for her donation of $50 and Matthew K for your monthly donation of $35 - thank you for your continued support!

Keep sending us your comments and questions,

Cathy -Orangutan Foundation UK office

Volunteer with Orangutan Foundation in Borneo!

I have been running the Orangutan Foundation’s Volunteer Programme for 4 years now, and remain proud to be doing so. I have visited the Programme a couple of times since my first participation in 2001 and I am as blown away by the experience now as I was then! Originally set up as a method of bolstering our field operations whilst offering individuals the opportunity to actively help and experience a unique lifestyle in Borneo, it continues to be an unbridled success. Its achievements to-date include; a number of guard and patrol posts in Tanjung Puting National Park and the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve; an orangutan release camp; provision of clean drinking water to villages in the Belantikan Hulu region; and the Pondok Ambung Tropical Forest Research Station , to name but a few!

2009 Volunteer Team with Orangutan Foundation staff

One of the things I love most about the Programme is its transparency – all money paid by volunteers goes into their project that year, paying not only for the volunteer food and accommodation but also for the Indonesian staff, work tools and materials. Oh, and it is brilliant fun for everyone who takes part! The fact that we have had the same staff involved for years and that a significant number of volunteers return to Borneo speaks for itself.

2010 sees the Volunteer Programme enter its 11^th year and we continue with our winning formula – teams of 12 people go out for a 6 week period and live a basic lifestyle, helping with manual labour and construction work to aid our field operations.

Camp Mangkung, built and painted by volunteers in 2008 

In 2008, the Volunteer Programme built the Lamandau reserve’s 6th orangutan release camp, called Camp Mangkung. It consists of a kitchen and storeroom, accommodation rooms, office and orangutan holding cage. Mangkung was recently designated as an official site for the release of translocated orangutans - meaning that wild healthy orangutans directly threaten by habitat destruction (eg from a palm oil plantation, like female orangutan Memes), can be moved and will be released at Camp Mangkung.

During the dry season or times of low rain, river access to Camp Mangkung is impossible and so we need to build a boardwalk so that we have reliable access to the site. This will be the focus of the 2010 project - thus there will be high levels of chiselling, sawing and hammering….plus some digging!

John a volunteer from Team 2 in 2009 with a little helping paw!

If you want to spend a unique 6 weeks doing something worthwhile for orangutan conservation, make friends for life and see orangutans in the wild, then why not make this the year to join us?

What all the hard work is for!

Dates for the 2010 Programme are:

Team 1 – 1^st May to 12^th June

Team 2 – 26^th June to 7^th August

Please note that it is extremely likely that we will be running a 3rd team from, 21^st August. This will be confirmed within the next couple of weeks on our website.

Further information may be found in the 2010 Volunteer Programme Brochure on our website.

Elly - Orangutan Foundation Development and Volunteer Co-ordinator

Meet Eko, our elephant!

The Orangutan Foundation is excited to be taking part in Elephant Parade London 2010, in conjunction with the charity, elephant family. The event is billed as London's largest public art exhibition and aims to raise over £1 million for conservation projects in Asia.  Below are some photos of our adopted elephant, whom we have called Eko. He has been beautifully designed and painted by artist Paul Kidby. Le Pain Quotidien have generously agreed to be our sponsors enabling us to participate.

The photos show you Eko's transformation over the past months (all photos by Paul Kidby).

Paul takes delivery of Eko (2 Nov 2009) and he takes over their dining room!

Eko turns blue!

Eko makes a new friend!

Intricate detail

Paul applying the undercoat for the gold paint.

Eko has gold paint and it has taken Paul many coats and much time to get the desired effect!

Eko leaving Paul's house (23 Dec 2009).

Eko being transferred onto a lorry to be taken away.

On the lorry and ready to go - Paul and his family said they'll really miss Eko!

A huge thank you to Paul and Vanessa Kidby for their time, energy and fantastic work - we are absolutely delighted with Eko!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

A Christmas message from the Orangutan Foundation office in Central Kalimantan, Borneo.  

Thank you all for your support over the past year and very best wishes for 2010!

Conservation in unprotected areas -reply to comments

Thank you to everyone who has recently left comments, especially about Brian and Rosa’s release – they do mean a lot to our staff (Rosa, lovely to hear from you and of course the orangutan Rosa was named after you. Rosa was our vet who previously work at the orangutan care centre). I’d like to respond to Louis McCarten, who left a comment about Belantikan’s protection - 'I think it is time to press the Indonesian government to provide actual legal protection to the Belantikan rain forest. And quickly. I do not see a future for the biodiversity here if this is not attempted (and financed). Why not a Belantikan National Park? Better that than a Belantikan alan alang wasteland (or yet another oil palm plantation the world doesn’t need–which of course is what is the world is going to get if we don’t do something to save the Belantikan).’ 

Your point about Belantikan needing protection is entirely reasonable and this is why we are working in this area. Belantikan has the world’s largest population of orangutans outside of a protected area and it is important for many other ecological reasons.  However, the situation in Belantikan it isn’t black and white - there are many factors to consider when deciding how best to protect a high conservation value forest area. Designating the forests as a national park isn’t the answer either. We must deal with the reasons behind deforestation otherwise they will persist despite the change in land status, as we have witnessed in other Indonesian national parks.  

A lot of the land is community owned, adat and so rightfully it is the local people who make the decisions about their land.  The logging concessions are legal and still have many years left before they expire. However, rather than seeing these as only negative factors we need to find a way to work together.   

A co-operative management approach, where all the stakeholders (local communities, logging concessions, government) are recognised, have a voice and are taken notice of is one of our aims. The Belantikan Conservation Programme, funded by the United Nations Environment Programme – Great Ape Survival Partnership, began in 2005 and it is attempting to engage and work with all the stakeholders of Belantikan.   

One of our objectives is to see more of the area designated as protected forests (not national park) therefore maintaining key ecosystem functions, such as watersheds.  We are also helping the local communities, who are highly dependent on the forests, to earn a living that is ecologically and economically viable.  The communities have to make vital decisions about their land (whether to sell to oil palm companies, lease to timber concessions, how to farm it) and through increased education and awareness we can help them to understand the future implications of their decisions.

It is terribly depressing that you have to drive for 6 hours through uninterrupted oil palm plantations before you reach the forests and it is upsetting to think of all the wildlife that has been lost.  Our work in Belantikan is still in it infancy and we are working to set strong foundations for what we hope will be a future for these forests, its village communities and the wildlife. However, the ultimately responsibility lies with the Indonesian government and it will be to their detriment, as well as everybody else’s, if they fail to make the right choices. 

Thank you,

Cathy - Orangutan Foundation (UK office)

Orangutan Adoption Diary - Rosa and Brian free at last!

I am very happy to tell you that based on a joint decision between Dr Fiqri (our vet), Pak Tigor  (Lamandau Orangutan Reintroduction Manager) and Pak Eko Novi, the head of section II of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency of Central Kalimantan, infant orangutan Brian and adult female orangutan, Rosa were finally released from their cage out into the forest in Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve, on the 4th December.

Female Bornean orangutan Rosa and her adopted son, Brian @Orangutan Foundation.

At the direction of Pak Tigor, the staff of Camp Siswoyo started to open the cage.  Brian and Rosa looked impatient as they waited for the cage door to be opened - Brian was very interested in what was happening outside of the cage. 

Rosa and Brian await, impatiently, for the cage door to be opened @Orangutan Foundation.

Rudi, the staff vice coordinator of Camp Siswoyo, opened the door and Rosa and Brian were carried on the back by Winto, staff member of Camp Siswoyo. Brian was frozen onto the back of Rosa, though he didn't seem scared just wondering about the situation. Brian some times smiled and watched the people around him.

Door being opened by Rudi and Winto is carrying Rosa and Brian @Orangutan Foundation.

Brian and Rosa were taken to a watch tower, approximate 1.5 km from Camp siswoyo.   

Utang, staff from Camp Gemini, took over the carrying from Winto - orangutans can be heavy! @Orangutan Foundation

Rosa being encourage to move along @Orangutan Foundation.

Utang then put Rosa down to walk but she didn’t want to. Tigor and the Camp staff eventually tried wooing Rosa and Brian with coconuts on the hand-cart, Rosa moved on the hand-cart to take the coconuts, and Tigor pushed the cart. After they arrived at the watchtower Rosa moved towards the coconuts and pineapples. Brian watched and then he followed to eat the coconuts.

Rosa and Brian enjoying their feast of coconuts @Orangutan Foundation.

Another female orangutan, Queen and her baby Query, appeared and watched from a nearby tree but then started to climb down the tower.  Brian saw Queen and Query and went towards the tower and climbed on to the base.

Orangutan Queen and her baby Query @Orangutan Foundation

 

Brian climbs onto the tower to look at Queen and Query @Orangutan Foundation.

Rosa looked worried and followed Brian and removed him from the tower, away from Queen. Tigor and other Camp Gemini staff watched Queen and tried to chase her away from Rosa and Brian.   

Rosa retreiving Brian from the tower @Orangutan Foundation

After Queen moved off Rosa started to walk holding Brian. Rosa walked for 15 minute and then stopped at a tree with a broken branch. She climbed the tree and Brian climbed too, he seemed very happy to find the broken branch. He swayed his body and climbed the tree - he was very smart and seem to enjoy himself. 

Camp Gemini staff watching Rosa and Brian @Orangutan Foundation.

Finally we had to wrench ourselves away from Rosa and Brian and leave them inside the forest. 2 Siswoyo Camp staff, Rudi and Winto, followed them for 4 days and made sure everything was well for Brian and Rosa.  

Brian and Rosa clmbing up into the trees @Orangutan Foundation.

 

Brian having fun exploring the forest @Orangutan Foundation 

We wish you all the best Brian and Rosa - congratulations on being together, back in the wild and free!

Thank you to everyone who has supported our 'Protect Me and My Tree Appeal' - please help us to keep these orangutans in the wild.

Thank you,

Hudi Dewe -Programme Co-ordinator

Many thanks to:· BKSDA Kalimantan Tengah (the Natural Resources Conservation Agency of Central Kalimantan)· Mr. Eko Novi Setiawan the head of section II of the  Natural Resources Conservation Agency of Central Kalimantan (Kepala BKSDA SKW II Kalimantan Tengah),· Ibu Ashley Leiman OBE the Director of Orangutan Foundation UK,· Brian W. Matthews the Wildlife Photographer · Tigor Nainggolan the Lamandau orangutan Reintroduction Manager of Orangutan Foundation UK· Fiqri the Lamandau orangutan reintroduction Vet of Orangutan Foundation-UK· Uduk the Lamandau orangutan reintroduction Camp Coordinator of Orangutan Foundation-UK· Yatno for the Kijang pickup· Uli for the speed boat