Issue 31 | March 2020 BOS Australia | + 61 2 9011 5455 | PO Box 3916 Mosman NSW 2088 From the President … Even though we are already well • care for over 500 in You will find more exciting stories into 2020, I would like to take this our two rehabilitation centres, and on the following pages. opportunity to share with you • start restoring what we lost in the Happy reading! the milestones we accomplished devastating fires. together in 2019. Thanks to Tony Gilding, President Please also check out this short you, our wonderful donors and video of the highlights. None of this supporters, we could: would be possible without you! • welcome 4 newly born babies in But, of course, we don’t stop here. the wild, 2020 brings new challenges and • rescue 17 orangutans, and help new success stories. So far, we them with immediate care, have rescued one and • care for 71 sun bears, released several lucky ones into • celebrate the release of 76 their forest homes. orangutans in safe forests,

A giving hand that touches the world

“Wow, so cool!”, that was and is The female orangutan pictured in the she very easily could have been the reaction of people all over the photo is 25-year-old Anih, one of our asking for food from Syahrul, as Anih world looking at the incredible unreleasable orangutans. She lives on and some other orangutans are still photo below. An orangutan is one of BOS Foundation’s sanctuary dependent on humans.” offering her hand to a man standing islands that are part of the Samboja Sihite explains that the lengthy in muddy water. How human, how Lestari Orangutan Rehabilitation period of captivity that Anih and friendly, how touching! We agree, Centre in East . other orangutans have endured it is an amazing photo, and we are BOS built several islands like this for prior to being handed over to BOSF happy to share the story behind it. orangutans that cannot be released is “one of the biggest hurdles we to the wild. These islands have limited must overcome in the rehabilitation access to prevent contact between process in order to return them to humans and orangutans. Exceptions their wild, forest homes”. Other are only being made for medical challenges include the limited treatment carried out by veterinarians, availability of release sites, the for other BOSF staff and related low number of naturalistic islands agencies with special permits. for unreleasable orangutans, and the length of captivity prior to The man in the photo is Syahrul. The rescue that makes the number of BOSF technician is cleaning the river orangutans like Anih all too high. of overgrown grasses and excess We are very pleased to see the sedimentation, to maintain the open, positive response from the public forest-like conditions on the island. towards this ‘viral’ photo. Seeing Anih and Syahrul have known each this, we are left wondering how other for almost 30 years. wild animals can be even friendlier “In this photo, we will never know to humans than we are to them. exactly what happened”, says BOS However, they belong in their habitat, Foundation CEO Jamartin Sihite. not with us. By protecting their “Anih may have looked like she was environment, we help to preserve offering help to Syahrul. However, and maintain the balance of nature.

www.orangutans.com.au “There are no words for how amazing it was”

Ashling Hartigan is our Australian The trip to was the first trip If it wasn’t for that bus, I never would Orangutan Freedom winner who all by yourself. You must have been have got to experience the beauty went on a trip of a lifetime to super excited… of the Bornean countryside and its Kalimantan, Borneo. Shortly after Not really. I think I was just in too people. With my head sticking out her return to Australia, we asked much shock and still waiting for that the window with my starkly pale the 28-year-old public servant and other shoe to drop that I wasn’t Irish skin and blonde hair, I got to animal lover about her adventure. allowing myself to get excited. I was see the laughter and joy my foreign weirdness brought to the locals. What was your first reaction when too scared that something was going Driving by, even for just a second, you heard that you had won the to go wrong and it would be taken the locals would stare, smile, wave, trip to Borneo? away from me. call out and laugh. SCAM! Delete email! It wasn’t until a Luckily nobody took it away from My third favourite was the amazing couple of hours later when I received you, and you spent ten exhilarating a text message from Tony, the people I got to meet and share the days exploring Borneo and our experience with, not only the other president of BOS Australia, saying programs. Which were your top winners but also the BOS guides and I had won and to check my emails, three favorite experiences you will the Samboja Lodge staff. that I went to my delete folder and never forget? read the email again. Even then, I still The friendships I made on this trip Of course, the number one best thought it was a scam. I know will be something I cherish experience was releasing Suci from for life, and I can’t wait until our ten- What did you know about her cage! The feeling of lifting the year reunion! orangutans and the BOS cage door and seeing this ball of Foundation before joining the orange fur run out to freedom; there For all of us that have never Orangutan Freedom campaign? are no words for how amazing it was. experienced an orangutan release, Only the very basics; that orangutans My second favourite is something can you tell us a little bit more are endangered, and BOSF helps you wouldn’t really expect to be a about your emotions, feelings, save them. But as basics go, they’re favourite – the trips we had on the thoughts before, during and after pretty spot on. rickety bus with no air-conditioning. the release, and especially while opening the cage? “Don’t drop it! Don’t drop it!” That’s all I was thinking at the time of opening the cage. I was so scared that I would drop this massively heavy metal cage on this tiny six- year-old orangutan. But once she was out and safe, all I could think was about how much I wanted to cuddle her and join her in her feast of fruit. Paulina, one of the amazing BOS guides, had told me that the orangutans can sense your feelings, so if you release an orangutan and you’re scared or anxious, they will feel scared and anxious too. Therefore, while I was giving Suci her pre-release bananas, I spoke to her and let her know that she was going to be free soon and I was so happy that I was there with her.

What do you love most about orangutans? How much like us they are! Looking into their eyes, you can see their intelligence and emotion. It is especially easy to see the comparison in the toddlers. While we were at the “Jungle School” with the orangutans, we got to see them play, and it was exactly the same as watching children play.

What would you tell somebody that has never heard about to the care of the orangutans, baby orangutans. I always suggest BOS Foundation’s work and not to the pockets of the humans that people watch the documentary who is wondering why she/he who run it. You can trust that your series “Orangutan Jungle School”, should support BOS Australia, money is getting to where you which shows BOS Foundation’s work. for example, by adopting an want it to go. And if you adopt an It is the best and most entertaining orangutan? orangutan, you can be assured that advertisement and so educational. If you donate to BOSA, you can be your money is going towards the I would love to see it being played sure that the money is going directly welfare and development of all the in schools. Borneo is waiting for you

While not everybody gets the Recently a group of students from about the day’s events. We also unique opportunity to release an the TAFE (Technical and Further ventured out to the Black River to see orangutan as Ashling did, we can Education) course “Certificate III in wild proboscis monkeys, which was a promise you a no less exciting Captive Animals” experienced how big hit with the group.” adventure. much fun such an enrichment and Come and be a part of the solution By joining our Orangutan Volunteer welfare trip can be. Joined by head and save orangutans from extinction! Program, you can spend two weeks TAFE teacher Rebecca Coventry Apply now for our trips from at the Rehabilitation and captive teacher/BOS Australia November 2020 to March 2021! Centre in East Kalimantan, Borneo. enrichment and welfare coordinator It is currently the home of 123 Lou Grossfeldt, the group of 14 Tour dates: orangutans, most of whom we students helped the local staff • 7–19 November 2020 prepare for release to the wild. by making hammocks, cleaning • 5–18 December 2020 The sanctuary also houses over 60 enclosures and preparing special food sun bears. Together with a Borneo treats for orangutans and sun bears. • 2–15 January 2021 Orangutan Survival (BOS) Australia • 6–19 February 2021 representative and local technicians, But it doesn’t end there, says Lou • 6–19 March 2021 you are creating food and play items Grossfeldt: “Evenings are spent for orangutans that are essential to enjoying an amazing local meal at the their welfare. lodge with a cold beer and chatting

www.orangutans.com.au SPOTLIGHT HELLO, I AM HANNI PUSPITA SARI

Hanni Puspita Sari is working for What is the most challenging part before they get their chance to live the enrichment team at the BOS of your work? on a sanctuary island. We need to Foundation’s Nyaru Menteng I need to make sure we create the create certain enrichment tools and Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, best menu for orangutans being provide infrastructure to support in . Hanni also trained for a future in the wild, as their rehabilitation, even if we know happens to be the only female in well as for those who sadly cannot they may not be released to the wild. the eight-member team. be released. “Enrichment” does not We have to relieve them of boredom just mean providing tools or toys, or and keep their minds occupied, How long have you been working supplementary foods for orangutans. because orangutans experience for the BOS Foundation? It also relates to their gestures and stress and boredom just like humans. I have been working in Nyaru their interests. I need to be creative What drives and motivates Menteng since 17 November 2000, and aware of what each individual you in your job? so for almost 20 years. I started as needs, and know every orangutan a surrogate mother, a babysitter we are caring for in Nyaru Menteng, I hope that our work here can come for orphaned orangutans, a role I regardless of the different age to real fruition someday. We hope fulfilled until 2008. groups, abilities, and such. the orangutans in our care will live a good life, and that the species will What is your main responsibility as Can you tell us a little more about survive. Actually, by helping them a member of the enrichment team? your care for the “un-releasable” return to their forest home, we are Together with my colleagues, I orangutans? doing a good thing for the planet monitor the nutritional intake of For these “unreleasable” orangutans, and for all mankind. every orangutan in the rehabilitation our goal is to make them feel centre, right up until the moment comfortable in their enclosures they are released in the forest.

We love hearing from you We know you’ve been spreading the orangutan word, so why not tell us about what you’re up to? Email [email protected] or post your photos online at facebook.com/bosaustralia or instagram/bosaustralia Can you help us?

Borneo Orangutan Survival Australia Your donations provide food, shelter, protection, medicine and companionship + 61 2 9011 5455 for orangutans in our care. Visit www.orangutans.com.au to help us help them. PO Box 3916 Donations by cheque are payable to Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Mosman NSW 2088 Australia at PO Box 3916, Mosman NSW 2088. facebook.com/bosaustralia instagram.com/bosaustralia Make a one-off or regular payment via direct debit or by credit card either Our newsletter is proudly written and online or by calling us on +61 2 9011 5455. We now accept Paypal donations produced by BOS Australia volunteers. too! See the link on the homepage of our website. All images © BOS 2019 Save paper and the environment and opt-in to receive our e-letter via email Thank you for your continued support. at [email protected]

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