Perth Zoo has been involved in habitat and wildlife conservation work in the Bukit Tigapuluh region since 2006 working with the Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Australian Orangutan Project with the support of the Indonesian Government.
Through its Wildlife Conservation Action fundraising program, Perth Zoo provides funding support to the orangutan reintroduction program, Wildlife Protection Units, mobile education units, infrastructure upgrades and wildlife surveys.
Since 2006, Perth Zoo has funded over $475,000 worth of projects and activities in Bukit Tigapuluh including:
- funding support for specially trained Wildlife Protection Units patrolling the Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem to secure the forests against illegal activities, conduct wildlife surveys and collect information about potential threats.
the establishment and operation of Mobile Education Units working with villagers in the Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem to build awareness of the importance of the protection of wildlife and the ecosystem- construction of infrastructure to support the ongoing operations and presence of the orangutan reintroduction program which is the largest employer in the area
- funding and staff support for the orangutan re-introduction program run by the Frankfurt Zoological Society which has released 139 Sumatran Orangutans since 2002 (release figure as at October 2011). This is the only alternate population of orangutan outside of Sumatra’s Aceh Province.
the construction of an Orangutan Open Sanctuary to care for orphaned and former pet trade orangutans that are unable to live unsupported in the wild, with the aim that their offspring can be released into the rainforest. This sanctuary also provides a base for wildlife patrols.- the construction of Wildlife Protection Ranger Posts which create a physical presence and deterrent to poaching and logging and are administrative and work centres for local staff
- funding of prosecutions as further deterrents to wildlife poaching and the illegal clearing of land in the ecosystem
infrastructure upgrades such as road works and bridges to enable patrols to occur and maintain presence of wildlife patrols within the ecosystem- funding wildlife surveys to build understanding of the extent of wildlife within the ecosystem and funding an elephant conflict management program.
Overall, these projects and initiatives employ over 80 local people as staff in the wildlife patrols, as technicians working with wildlife in the sanctuary and monitoring wildlife, as educators and as support staff.
Creating local employment has provided increased income in local communities and improved infrastructure.
The Bukit Tigapuluh Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection program also funds the local Bukit Tigapuluh school. Perth Zoo contributes to learning materials and basic school needs each year.
