Orang-utan Foundation International

It was first called the Orang-utan Research and Conservation Project (ORCP) in 1971 and founded by Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas and her former husband, Rod Brindamour, in Tanjung Puting National Park. The ORCP was later renamed to the Orang-utan Foundation International (OFI).

When the ORCP first started, the aim was to study the behaviour, ecology and conservation of wild orang-utans. During its early establishment, the ORCP was the only conservation site in the area. ORCP worked closely with the Indonesian authorities to patrol the Tanjung Puting National Park and assisted the nature conservation authorities in nabbing poachers and illegal loggers. The ORCP had also collected over 100,000 hours of observations on wild orang-utans, documenting their lives over 3 generations. Many insights into their behaviour, cognitive abilities etc. were collected from those observations and researches.

By the mid 70s, the behavioural insights of the orang-utans caught the attention of the media and there was a need to convert those attentions into real action for orang-utan conservation.  Thus, ORCP was renamed to the OFI and was based in Los Angeles, California. Currently, the OFI is dedicated to research, education, conservation and forest protection so as to ensure the survival of the orang-utan population.

Presently, the OFI is facing problems pertaining to threats received by the Tanjung Puting National Park. Such problems include the expansion of the palm oil plantation and presence of forest fires.

Conservation Efforts

1. Rehabilitation and Release Program

The goal of the program was to remove orang-utans from the illegal pet trade, improve the quality of life of ex-captive orang-utans and to educate the local people and government. It also aims to establish a visible tourist attraction in the park using it as a base to highlight the importance of the park and why there was a need to save these orang-utans.

2. Orang-utan Care Centre

This centre was created for the purpose of housing orang-utans who required medical attention and other care in preparation for release back into the wild. The care centre is well-equipped with facilities such as an operating room, X-ray room, medical laboratory etc.

3. Orang-utan Eco Tours

With Dr. Galdikas leading the eco tours, she will take the participants through the natural habitat of the orang-utans and they will have the opportunity to see them in their environment.  The trip includes site visits to the research centre and the orang-utan care centre. She will also share insights into the history of the orang-utans, their behaviours and personal encounters which she experienced with these animals. Each tour is capped at a maximum of 13 participants.

 

 

Here is a preview on what participants are expected to see on the tour.

 4. Education

OFI has conducted educational programs for schools, as well as seminars and conferences on the problem of orang-utan and forest conservation. OFI also publishes its own newsletter in the Indonesian language which is widely distributed in Indonesia. This newsletter is called “Pesan dari Alam”, meaning “message from nature”. This is in hope of educating the people on the seriousness of the declining orang-utan population in Indonesia. An international Orang-utan Awareness Week was initiated. Each year in November, OFI will have a week long celebration of outreach and education with regards to orang-utans and their habitats.

5. “Project 560”

The aim of “Project 560” is to get schools, boys’ and girls’ clubs and young people to “adopt” any particular day in the year to have a fundraising program. The objective is to raise $560, which is the amount enough to keep the orang-utan families safe. This is a worldwide initiative and is open to people across the globe.

 

 

 

These are just several of the many conservation projects initiated by OFI. OFI hopes that this issue will gain worldwide attention and  to garner the support of the local and national governments.

 

Picture credits
Orang-utan Foundation International logo. Source: Nature in art
Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas. Source: Orang-utan Foundation International
Project 560 logo. Source: Orang-utan Foundation International