Story
As you may be aware Helen has been volunteering at the Orangutan Foundation for the last four years. This is a cause that we both feel strongly about and we would appreciate it if, rather than buying us a wedding gift, you would consider donating towards the building of a soft release site for rehabilitated orangutans in the Lamandau Wildlife Reserve, Borneo.
The Lamandau Wildlife Reserve is a remote area of peat swamp forest in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, Borneo. It is formed from two expired logging concessions and was acquired by Orangutan Foundation (OF) 10 years ago. Lamandau is their current release site for ex-captive and rehabilitated orangutans and, to date, they have released over 150 orangutans there. The OF Care Centre is currently home to nearly 350 orangutans who are awaiting a life in the wild in Lamandau.
Despite a rehabilitation programme of up to 8 years in length, OF cannot simply lead the orangutans into the forest and just let them go. The orangutans are released from a platform and for a while they are routinely fed to ensure that they maintain a healthy weight whilst coming to terms with a life in the wild. Thus, in addition to the platform OF build a whole camp, a Soft Release Site, so that they may accommodate a number of retained staff to monitor the progress of new and existing releases.
There are currently five release sites in the Lamandau reserve and another one is needed so that OF can release more orangutans. OF is currently at work on “Camp Mankung” a new soft release site on the Eastern border of Lamandau. Building the site will entail constructing not only the orangutan release platform but also accommodation, storage buildings, kitchen, toilet block, walkways with jetty to the river access point and more. This is all costly, and recent inflation in Indonesia means that OF are struggling to finish the site. Thus, any money you donate would be invested into the release site construction and, essentially, the freedom of orangutans currently in captivity.
To find out more about the Foundation and its work please go to www.orangutan.org.uk
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to donate: Orangutan Foundation gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
The Lamandau Wildlife Reserve is a remote area of peat swamp forest in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, Borneo. It is formed from two expired logging concessions and was acquired by Orangutan Foundation (OF) 10 years ago. Lamandau is their current release site for ex-captive and rehabilitated orangutans and, to date, they have released over 150 orangutans there. The OF Care Centre is currently home to nearly 350 orangutans who are awaiting a life in the wild in Lamandau.
Despite a rehabilitation programme of up to 8 years in length, OF cannot simply lead the orangutans into the forest and just let them go. The orangutans are released from a platform and for a while they are routinely fed to ensure that they maintain a healthy weight whilst coming to terms with a life in the wild. Thus, in addition to the platform OF build a whole camp, a Soft Release Site, so that they may accommodate a number of retained staff to monitor the progress of new and existing releases.
There are currently five release sites in the Lamandau reserve and another one is needed so that OF can release more orangutans. OF is currently at work on “Camp Mankung” a new soft release site on the Eastern border of Lamandau. Building the site will entail constructing not only the orangutan release platform but also accommodation, storage buildings, kitchen, toilet block, walkways with jetty to the river access point and more. This is all costly, and recent inflation in Indonesia means that OF are struggling to finish the site. Thus, any money you donate would be invested into the release site construction and, essentially, the freedom of orangutans currently in captivity.
To find out more about the Foundation and its work please go to www.orangutan.org.uk
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to donate: Orangutan Foundation gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.