The following account was written by volunteer Linda Duchin, who joined the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Volunteer Project in September:
Volunteering at Samboja was by far the most amazing two weeks I've ever had. As a professor of primatology (retired), I have travelled to be with primates on every continent we share with them. Visiting and studying many free-living species of monkeys and apes allowed me to give my students stories along with scientific data. But working with the individual orangutans at Samboja was a unique experience. This was definitely the place where I felt that I was working for them.
When I look into the intelligent eyes of our relatives, I always hope they can tell how much I love them, and at Samboja I could bring them food, nesting materials and enrichment activities that I helped to get. I loved gathering ginger plants, cutting sections of bamboo, and assembling the wood, leaf, and frozen ‘puzzles’ filled with carefully added peanuts, sunflower seeds, raisins etc. We helped provide these enrichments for each individual orangutan.
I had been to Indonesia before, so the heat and humidity were no surprise, and I chose this project specifically to volunteer for the orangutans. When you go, be sure to bring light-weight breathable clothing that you plan to drench with perspiration every day (you will be thankful for the laundry service at the lodge), but don’t aspire to perspire any weight away, as the food is delicious and plentiful (three meals per day with more choices than you will believe!). The great accommodations and food were second only to the wonderful orangutans we saw every day.
Everyone who works at Samboja is friendly and helpful. Kate, Wik, and Sam are wonderful leaders who guided us through every job. I have the utmost respect for each of them because of their dedication and knowledge, and of course their sense of humour. We all enjoyed our time together and became friends.
Though I felt that every day was filled with memorable moments, I’d have to say that my favourite time was when I was closest to the islands, travelling in the boat with the caregiver who tossed food to each orangutan that he called by name. Waiting in the moat, as the individual emerged from the forest and came to the edge of the water was the best ever. I wish I had more videos of the orangutans catching the coconuts or pineapples with one hand!
You should definitely go, and be sure to bring what you can from the wish list: I brought peanuts, masks, gloves, nappies, and anything else I could cram in!
Staring into the eyes of these orangutans will touch your heart and change you. They are our close relatives. I encourage everyone to help us save them all.
If you feel inspired to help make a difference to orangutan rehabilitation efforts, join the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Volunteer Project in Borneo today!
