 .....so I don't know how many of you remember all the talk of the dream team last year....a team of past volunteers and experts who went out to Samboja Lestari in July 2009 to try to implement and pave the way for the volunteer programme that now exists there. Part of our time there was spent working on Island Zero, an unfinished island that could be used to home orangutans from the centre once we had completed it.   The aim was to plant fruiting trees, build feeding platforms and nesting areas and to connect the island up with aerial pathways to allow the orangutans to live, as far as possible, off the ground, and encourage natural movement and behaviours. Thanks to the crazy visions of Rob, our construction expert, we managed to exceed even what we thought was possible, and get ourselves labeled as "Bule Gila" (crazy white people, hehehee!) by the staff as they thought the designs were slightly ambitious, albeit near impossible!      But with dedication and an incredible amount of effort from the whole team; Elaine, Steve, Kay, Hanna, Rob and myself, (along with some AMAZING visiting volunteers along the way!) we worked along side the brilliant staff at Samboja Lestari and made it happen! There was a lot of blood (mainly Robs, he has a talent at bleeding!), sweat (you would just not believe how much, ew!) and tears to get there, but it was worth every single minute of it when we got to look back and see the first orangutans testing out the finished product!   And so a year has now passed since we embarked on our journey to this once strange unknown place called Samboja Lestari, that we now all think of as a second home! And I thought it was a good time to update you on what is happening with the island with some pictures. Here are some gorgeous photos of the orangutans who now call our island bule gila home, Anih, Yuni, Henry, Bong and Misri.   Since the completion of Island zero, some of the other islands have been put to use, including one for the forest school orangutans, and lucky Leo the lonely bachelor, has finally got himself 3 ladies, Juminten, Elisa and Mona. Future plans are to connect Island zero with islands 4,2 and 1, to move Leo's group to island 5, and the orangutans from island 5 to 2, so that all the groups of orangutans who are healthy and eligible for release are together on the connected islands. It was an incredible adventure, and now looking at these orangutans using our platforms and the island, it makes me incredibly happy, as I am sure it will the rest of the team! I just want to say the hugest thanks to all the keepers at Samboja Lestari for making us feel so welcome, for all their incredible strength (without you the "gila" plans would have definitely not been possible) and hard work, and their endless commitment to supporting these wonderful animals! You do a great job, thanks for letting us try to do our little bit!  If you want to volunteer and do your "bit" take a look at the volunteer programme held at Samboja Lestari (and dont worry, this was a one off, there would not be this much construction work to do!!!!!) Labels: Borneo, BOS, East Kalimantan, feeding platform, orangutan, orangutan rehabilitation, samboja lestari, sunbears, the great orangutan project, volunteer, volunteer with orangutans |
posted by Julie {:(|} @ 7:01 PM
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 After having met with all the partners at Samboja; BOS, Four Paws and REACT (who run the volunteer programme); it was full steam ahead working at Wanariset and Forest School to enrich and repair the cages. This was all done with money raised by the volunteer programme at Samboja and provided 660m of rope, 700m of tyre rope, 150 chunky D-locks, a very large generator and a welding machine. We were also lucky enough to have access to tools volunteered by Rigid that were brought over from America - a portable drill with bits and a grinder. On top of this we received a fantastic enrichment device made by Otto Environmental and hammocks provided by Aussie Dog.  After months of planning this event heralded true cooperation between many organisations for whom the conservation of orangutans is more than just a day job. The first zoo group trip in a number of years can count the enrichment of 40 orangutans (half a dozen of which were taken out of small cages) as just one of their successes. Of these 40, half a dozen orangutans were removed from small cages and placed in better and healthier environments thanks to the determination of hardwork of both the zoo group and the fantastic staff at Samboja.Thanks to everyone who made this trip such a success and thanks to the volunteers for providing the funds that made it happen. To find out more about out Orangutan and Sunbear Rehabiliation Centre click here Labels: america, association, BOS, Four Paws, gap year, orangutan, programme, REACT, rehabilitation, samboja, sunbears, volunteer, zoo |
posted by Julie {:(|} @ 2:00 PM
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