Animal and Habitat Protection

Orangutans are vulnerable to capture by individuals, who kill the mothers in order to capture and sell baby orangutans. Through field investigations and an extensive network, 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.

Until recently, GPOCP also operated an Animal Transit Center in Ketapang to care for and medically treat confiscated and surrendered animals awaiting relocation to their new homes. In 2009, GPOCP assigned management of its Transit Center to International Animal Rescue (IAR); the Center has since been expanded. With IAR focusing on the welfare of the confiscated individual orangutans, GPOCP has been able to better focus its resources on investigations, surveys, education, institutional capacity-building, and other activities that protect the endangered orangutan species and its threatened forest habitat.

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

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

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