About Sumatran Orangutan Society

Our history

The Sumatran Orangutan Society (S.O.S) was founded in 1997 to compensate for the lack of international support for Sumatra's critically endangered orangutans, and it has since established branches in the U.K., the U.S.A. and Indonesia. Since gaining non-profit status in all three countries (it became a registered charity in the U.K. in 2001), the S.O.S has expanded its activities and is beginning to raise significant funds.

All S.O.S staff, with the exception of one co-ordinator, are unpaid volunteers. S.O.S is in the process of setting up branches in Sweden and New Zealand.

Although the S.O.S is a fledgling organisation, it aims to contribute significantly to the welfare and conservation of this majestic species, whose extinction must be prevented.