The population of orangutans in the wild has dropped to approximately 50,000, which is 25% less than only a decade ago. While orangutans once roamed across the length and breadth of Southeast Asia, they now only survive in the wild on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The destruction of rain forests, agricultural encroachment, and poaching has taken a dramatic and deadly toll on these incredible apes. As the human population of Indonesia continues to swell, deforestation and habitat loss have driven orangutans into plantations and other human-occupied areas, and the resulting conflict has been devastating for orangutans. If you want to get involved in protecting and rehabilitating this fascinating species, then why not be an orangutan sanctuary volunteer!
Many of the orangutans who are rescued and brought to sanctuaries are little more than babies, and many of their mothers have been killed. Young orangutans in the wild spend seven years with their mothers, but that isn’t the case for many of the orangutans at the sanctuary. The psychological and developmental damage some of them have suffered is significant, but there are ways to help. Providing a safe, familial atmosphere with proper space to play, learn, and develop can ensure that orangutans grow up happy, healthy, and socially adjusted.
At the orangutan sanctuaries we work with, volunteers who are passionate about conservation and dedicated to protecting the natural world are welcome. You can aid in the development and growth of orangutans, help design and construct appropriate habitats, and learn more about conservation practices in the wild. We encourage an approach that really lets you get stuck in and helps to turn our volunteers into ambassadors, spreading information and awareness of the greatest threats to nature’s greatest treasures. If you want to be an orangutan sanctuary volunteer, send us a message and introduce yourself. We’re always eager to welcome new sets of helping hands!
