The Orangutan Project
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2019) |
| Nickname | TOP |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1998 |
| Founder | Leif Cocks |
| Founded at | Australia |
| Type | Nonprofit, NGO |
| Legal status | foundation |
| Purpose | environmental |
| Headquarters | Perth, Western Australia |
| Location |
|
| Troy Kenah | |
Key people | Leif Cocks OAM, |
Parent organization | Wildlife Conservation International Limited |
| Website | www |
The Orangutan Project also known as The Australian Orangutan Project is a non-profit registered Australian environmental organisation[1] established in 1998 by Leif Cocks. The organization focuses on the conservation of orangutans and the preservation and rehabilitation of their forest habitats, primarily in Indonesia. It supports various organizations working in the field, including the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS), the Orangutan Foundation International, and the Orangutan Foundation.[2] It is a part of Wildlife Conservation International (WCI), a non-profit registered Australian environmental organization with affiliates and chapters in Canada, USA, EU and New Zealand.
Funding
[edit]The organization receives funding through public donations, community events, membership fees, orphan orangutan 'adoptions', and grants. As of 30 June 2023, providing funding over AUD$5,037,350 (USD$3,400,868) to wildlife conservation. In 2005, WCI received over $62,000 from the Australian Government's Regional Natural Heritage Program (RNHP) to develop and implement orangutan protection units in the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park region in Sumatra and to monitor and deter illegal logging. [3] In 2006, the organization secured an additional $92,000 from the RNHP to extend the protection efforts to include other species such as the Sumatran elephant and tiger. TOP also received A$207,500 for wildlife surveys in Borneo's forests, including the Ulu Segama reserve, to establish wildlife baseline data and develop a Forest Management Plan focusing on orangutan populations. [4]
Leadership
[edit]The Orangutan Project was founded by Leif Cocks, who also serves as the organization's current president. Cocks has been involved in orangutan conservation for over 30 years and has contributed to various projects related to the protection of orangutans and their habitats. He holds a Master of Science from Curtin University, Western Australia, for research on the welfare of orangutans in captivity. Cocks has published several works on the subject, including "Orangutans and their Battle for Survival"[5] and an autobiography titled "Orangutans, My Cousins, My Friends."[6][7][8]
Organizational structure
[edit]The Orangutan Project operates as a conservation organization supporting projects across Indonesia and Malaysia.[9] It addresses issues facing fragmented orangutan populations, including rescue, rehabilitation, and release programs, as well as forest habitat protection, regeneration, education, research, and local community partnerships. In 2017, the organization transitioned structurally, leading to the establishment of Wildlife Conservation International Limited, which oversees TOP and its related projects, including the International Elephant Project and the International Tiger Project.[10]
Partnerships
[edit]The Orangutan Project collaborates with several regional alliances and organizations focused on orangutan conservation, such as the Sumatran Rescue Alliance and the Borneo Orangutan Rescue Alliance. Its partners include the Centre for Orangutan Protection, Borneo Nature Foundation, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Orangutan Foundation UK, Orangutan Information Centre, and Orang Utan Republik Foundation.[11][12]
References
[edit]- ^ Australian Department of the Environment and Water Resources. "Tax Deductible Organisations (Register of Environmental Organisations)" Archived 10 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 1 August 2007.
- ^ "Conserving Critical Habitat". Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2009.
- ^ "Regional Natural Heritage Programme: Projects 2004-2005". Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
- ^ "RNHP Projects for 2006-07". Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
- ^ "Orangutan Expert Leif Cocks Discusses His Book 'Finding Our Humanity' At Library". 27 East. 27 June 2019.
- ^ "What humans can learn from orangutans". ABC News. 29 October 2016.
- ^ Perth Zoo, Western Australia. "News from Bukit Tigapuluh" Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 1 August 2007.
- ^ Podcast, The Insider Mom (19 March 2021). "Saving A Species From Extinction & Protecting The Rainforest – The Insider Mom Podcast – Podcast". Podtail (in German).
- ^ Sánchez, Diego (16 August 2023). "Saving Borneo's orangutans from the air". EL PAÍS English.
- ^ ""The only way we can save the species is in the wild": an interview with Leif Cocks". loveexploring.com.
- ^ "The Project Working to Provide a Lifeline For Trafficked Orangutans". Earth.Org. 26 May 2021.
- ^ "The Orangutan Project Launches New Sumatran Rescue Alliance To Rehabilitate Trafficked Orangutans & Fight Illegal Wildlife Trade". World Animal News. 14 May 2020.
Further reading
[edit]- Australian Department of the Environment and Water Resources. "RNHP Projects for 2004–05". Accessed 1 August 2007.
- Australian Department of the Environment and Water Resources. "RNHP Projects for 2006–07". Accessed 1 August 2007.
- Cocks, L (2003) Orangutans and their Battle for Survival. University of Western Australia Press. ISBN 1-876268-80-8.
- Embassy of Indonesia, Canberra, Australia. "Media release: Australian born orang-utan to swing back into Indonesian national park". Accessed 1 August 2007