Conduct primate research in the Sumatran rainforest
Program Overview
Join an international team of volunteers and work alongside passionate conservationists in the amazing Leuser Ecosystem of North Sumatra, home to an abundance of wildlife such as the giant flying squirrel, Sumatran Elephant, white-handed gibbons and of course the orangutan.
During the 12-day program you will perform various research tasks (including jungle-based fieldwork), to help the understanding and conservation of graceful orangutans and contribute towards bringing knowledge to basic science, public health and wildlife conservation management.
You will be trekking into the forest to observe these fascinating creatures in the wild and you may have the opportunity to camp out and experience the mysterious sights and sounds of the jungle at night.
Life on the Program
During the first few days you will undergo training, visit the feeding platforms and take an exploratory practice trek in the forest. Days 5-10 is usually fieldwork with overnight stays in the forests carrying out project research. Towards the end of the program you will be involved in data entry. Please be aware that activities and schedules change for a variety of reasons and the above is just an example.
The project base is located in the village of Timbang Lawan, approximately 80 km from Medan. Accommodation is a simple but clean, local style building in the rice paddies which has limited amenities; long drop toilets, no hot water and shared rooms. During treks the camping conditions are even more basic.
Project Details
The primary focus of the research is to investigate how wild orang-utans combat parasitic infections, which can affect everything from health to reproduction and fertility, and ultimately survival. They eat certain plants to treat specific illnesses and you will be assisting with this fascinating research by carrying out some of the following tasks:
- Entering behavioural data
- Organising samples of orang-utan foodstuffs
- Organising faecal samples
- Preparing equipment and behavioural sheets for field assistants
- Keeping temperature, weather and humidity data records updated
- Nest counting
- Fruit trail transects to record range of foodstuffs available
- Locating areas with a significant wild orang-utan population
- Finding and following orang-utans to collect behavioural data and faecal samples
How this project makes a difference:
This project, the first of its kind for orangutans, investigates which special behaviours and ecological conditions are necessary to maintain health in wild orang-utans. It is the only ongoing, long-term research project studying orang-utan health anywhere in the world. This understanding will help rehabilitation programs teach orang-utans how to keep themselves healthy, so they are more likely to survive in the wild after reintroduction.
Volunteer Testimonials
I woke up in the rainforest less than 30 metres away from a semi-wild orangutan called Sasa. We saw Thomas Leaf Monkeys swinging in the trees above us and later we found a group of White-Handed gibbons calling to each other. Incredible! We continued uphill and heard the echoing calls of the jet-black Siamangs. What a day!
We then walked amongst giant resin trees, through cool fresh rivers and found ourselves using all four limbs to make our way back to camp where we were greeted by a cup of coffee and our jungle dinner before sleeping under the stars.
I had an amazing time here. It was great to get a close look in person of the struggle of conservation and research in Indonesia. There are so many moments that will be with me forever – seeing wild and semi wild orang-utans, learning about medicinal plants, sleeping and trekking in the jungle, riding elephants in Tangahan and more. I will also never forget seeing vast tracks of palm oil plants as far as the eye can see. I really love it here and I’m already plotting how I can return – soon I hope.
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Program Details
Build Your Program
What's Included
- Pre-departure support and discounted services
- 24-hour emergency phone
- Airport pick-up (unless otherwise stated)
- Arrival orientation
- Long term experienced staff
- Safe and basic accommodations (usually shared)
- All meals (unless otherwise stated in field manuals)
- Welcome meeting
- Location orientation
- All necessary project training by experienced staff
- All necessary project equipment and materials
- 24-hour in-country support
- Trekking in the rainforest
- Camping out under the stars in the rainforest
- Learning about Indonesian orangutans
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Medical and travel insurance
- Visa costs
- Personal kit
- Additional drinks and gratuities
- Extra local excursions
- International and domestic airport taxes
