Opened in February 2009, the Perth Zoo funded open orangutan sanctuary at Bukit Tigapuluh in Sumatra, Indonesia, supports international efforts to re-establish a population of the critically endangered Sumatran Orangutan in the wild.
Bukit Tigapuluh is home to over 135 rescued ex-pet and orphaned Sumatran Orangutans that have been reintroduced to the wild. The orangutans undergo training to become accustomed to living in the rainforest, however, not all rescued orangutans are suitable for release or are able to adapt to life in the wild and require specialist care.
The orangutan sanctuary provides ongoing care in a rainforest setting for orangutans that have not been able to be successfully rehabilitated for release. At the sanctuary, natural behaviours are encouraged with the aim of eventually reintroducing the orangutans or their offspring to the rainforest permanently.
The sanctuary development includes holding and release facilities for incoming orangutans and staff facilities that allow full-time location of staff on site. Trail systems have been developed in the area around the sanctuary to allow for easy tracking of the sanctuary orangutans.
In addition to funding the sanctuary, Perth Zoo – a world leader in breeding Sumatran Orangutans – and its staff have played a key role in providing advice and expertise for the establishment of the sanctuary including the development of individual management plans for the orangutans.
Perth Zoo staff have been involved in developing husbandry routines, care techniques suited to individual orangutans, forest skills training, staff training and enrichment programs for the orangutans.
The orangutans at the sanctuary are part of an intensive program, tailored to the animals’ individual needs to help them develop independence. Each orangutan is assessed to see whether they explore their environment effectively and find enough food to survive. The residents receive daily care and supplementary food and have access to night quarters if required.
Perth Zoo staff visit the sanctuary twice a year to help staff assess the orangutans’ behaviour, create new enrichment programs and develop management plans for incoming orangutans.
The sanctuary also provides a base for law enforcement surveillance including anti-poaching and anti-logging surveillance, as well as a conservation research facility and employment for the local community.
This project has been possible thanks to the co-operation and joint efforts of Perth Zoo, the Indonesian Government, the Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Australian Orangutan Project.
