by Oliver Milman for the Guardian.com
An Australian-led project will create a groundbreaking sanctuary for sick and injured orangutans in Indonesia, with the aim of changing attitudes of the country’s decision makers towards rainforest and animal conservation.
Preparation has begun on the orangutan haven following the securing of a 48-hectare site in rainforest near the city of Medan, on Sumatra.
An initial batch of three orangutans will be placed in the sanctuary, which will feature a series of small islands separated by water. Orangutans, which are scared by the prospect of swimming, will be free to roam their individualised islands, which will feature trees, feeding platforms and problem-solving puzzles.
It is hoped that further disabled orangutans will be able to join the initial trio once the haven is completed.
This excerpt from a news article appeared in and is courtesy of theguardian.com and can be read in it entirety here.
Read more about SOCP – the group behind the sanctuary – and its founder Dr. Ian Singleton.
