The animals of Borneo need you

Endangered wildlife such as orang-utans, sun bears, gibbons and hornbills are flooding into Matang Wildlife Centre.

Matang is the only centre on the entire island of Borneo that takes in all wildlife in need. Given that Borneo is one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet this is an incredibly huge mandate.

Matang's day-to-day operating budget is small and always stretched. Matang is funded in partnership between Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) and Orangutan Project. SFC do a difficult and sometimes dangerous job in order to confiscate and rescue animals that have been illegally kept in deplorable conditions. Orangutan Project works alongside SFC to care for the animals at Matang by providing funding and volunteer workers. However, as is the case for all rescue centres, rescources are always spread thin and additional funds are always needed in order to build new infrastructure and provide for resident animals.

Matang usually accommodates around 250 individual animals at any one time and resources are incredibly stretched at the best of times. However, in recent years the centre has swelled and is now accomodating around 600 animals. SFC have been working diligently to confiscate wildlife. This law enforcement sends a very clear and important message and is critical in addressing wildlife crime- one of the main underlying reasons that animals end up in centres like Matang. Due to the prolonged periods of deprivation and abuse that many of these animals have endured prior to being rescued, release is often not a viable or compassionate option. Therefore, SFC and Orangutan Project work together to provide lifetime care for wildlife in need.

Building enclosures that are suitable for the likes of sun bears, orang-utans and macaques is an incredibly expensive undertaking as steel is the only material strong enough for the job. Oranguatn Project is appealing for urgent funds to help build suitable new enclosures and assist with the ongoing care of a variety of wildlife at Matang Wildlife Centre.