Animal and Habitat Protection

Orangutans are vulnerable to capture by individuals, who sell the juvenile orangutans on the illicit international market. Through interview, GPOCP gathers information and evidence on keepers and traders of orangutans and other endangered wildlife and assists local authorities in confiscating these animals. This work has helped dozens of orangutans, gibbons, monkeys, birds, and other wildlife find their way back to the forest or to better environments such as rehabilitation centers. GPOCP also operates an Animal Transit Center which, under the supervision of a veterinarian, cares for confiscated or surrendered animals until they are relocated to their new homes by local authorities.

Every year, orangutans are killed by villagers in gardens and orchards that orangutans enter in search of food. Human-orangutan conflicts are becoming increasingly common in the park's buffer zones. GPOCP operates teams comprised of park rangers and community volunteers who respond to these conflicts and are trained to drive away orangutans without harming them. These units also monitor the locations of conflicts in order to target these areas with educational campaigns.

GPOCP also supports the national park authorities in the monitoring of illegal logging, sponsoring training (e.g., GIS technology to track illegal logging within the park), and through capacity building.

GPOCP staff assist local authorities with orangutan confiscation. (Photo: Tito Indrawan)

Rescued juvenile orangutans en route to a rehabilitation center. (Photo: Tito Indrawan)