Inside the orangutan forest school where the first lesson is survival

Orphaned apes in the rainforest of Indonesian Borneo are taught all the skills they need in preparation for their eventual return to the wildConservation in crisis: ecotourism collapse threatens communities and wildlifeThey were the lucky ones: Robin, Amalia, Eska; three orphaned orangutans unrelated but by circumstance, rescued from a private zoo in the East Kalimantan province of Indonesian Borneo in early 2017.A wealthy businessman had amassed an extensive collection of animals - sun bears, gibbons, reptiles, birds of prey - then run into trouble. When staff from the local orangutan rescue centre, Jejak Pulang, arrived on site, the zoo was already being dismantled, with animals boxed up for transit to uncertain fates. Continue reading...