Bukit Tigapuluh, located in Sumatra, Indonesia between Jambi and Riau provinces, is one of the last remaining areas of large contiguous dry lowland forest in Sumatra. It is also home to an extremely rich and unique ecosystem and high biodiversity.
The Bukit Tigapuluh National Park covers almost 150,000 hectares of tough, wild terrain and is home to more than 1,500 types of flora. There are approximately 59 mammal species (including Sumatran Tigers), 193 species of birds (or one-third of the species of birds in Sumatra); and 97 species of fish. There are also nine species of primates recorded in the immediate area including, since 2002, a reintroduced population of more than 135 Sumatran Orangutans.
The Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem also extends beyond the boundaries of the National Park and it is in this surrounding area that a lot of the conservation work takes place.
Bukit Tigapuluh Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection is a joint program between the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), Perth Zoo and Australian Orangutan Project (AOP), with the support of the Indonesian Government. The program’s work focuses on the unique ecosystem of Bukit Tigapuluh, with the aim of protecting the habitat and the wildlife within it by supporting various projects and programs including:
- Wildlife Protection Units
- community education programs
- habitat and wildlife monitoring
- wildlife research
- the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme which re-introduces orangutans into Bukit Tigapuluh
- community development programs and local employment which complements the conservation of biodiversity at Bukit Tigapuluh.
Find Out More
Orangutan Releases: In 2006 and 2011, two Perth Zoo born Sumatran Orangutans made history when they were released into Bukit Tigapuluh as part of a reintroduction program and international efforts to re-establish a population of this critically endangered species in the wild.
Orangutan Open Sanctuary: Through donations, Perth Zoo has funded the construction of a sanctuary in the Bukit Tigapuluh rainforest for rescued ex-pet and orphaned orangutans that cannot be released into the wild and need specialist care.
Protecting Sumatra’s Wildlife: Specially trained Wildlife Protection Units patrol the rough and rugged forest terrain of Bukit Tigapuluh to secure the forests against illegal activities, conduct wildlife surveys and collect information about potential threats.
Educating the Kids and Community of Bukit Tigapuluh: As a part of the Bukit Tigapuluh Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection Program, a Mobile Education Unit works with the people who live in the more than 30 villages of Bukit Tigapuluh to explain the importance of conserving habitat and wildlife in the area.
Perth Zoo’s Contribution to Conservation in Bukit Tigapuluh: Perth Zoo has funded over $475,000 worth of projects and activities in Bukit Tigapuluh through its fundraising program, Wildlife Conservation Action.
Read the Bukit Tigapuluh Conservation Plan (pdf).
