Protecting the habitats of orangutans, elephants, and tigers

Sumatra’s rainforests are exceptionally rich in species. In the center of the island is the Bukit Tiga Puluh landscape. This area has one of the largest remaining contiguous lowland rainforests in the heart of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. This makes it one of the last great refuges for Sumatran tigers, Sumatran orangutans, and especially Sumatran elephants.

Since 1998, we have been working to establish an orangutan population there to strengthen the overall numbers in the wild. In the FZS Jungle School, we prepare orangutans for a life in the wild that had been illegally kept as pets. So far, more than 175 animals have now been released into Bukit Tiga Puluh, and now offspring are being born wild to some of the first released orangutans.

The jungle school is part of our extensive conservation program with the goal of preserving the valuable habitat in Bukit Tiga Puluh. Our commitment and that of our partners is urgently needed because the rainforest would otherwise be rapidly cut down and destroyed by slash-and-burn.

Our focus areas in Indonesia

  • Conservation of the Bukit Tiga Puluh ecosystem
  • Supporting local communities with the development of environmentally friendly livelihoods
  • Prevention and mitigation of conflicts between humans and wildlife
  • Implementing environmental education for all ages
  • Monitoring orangutan, elephant, and tiger populations

Project news

  • Attack on FZS facilities in Bukit Tiga Puluh, Indonesia

  • Conservation and the next generation

  • Replacing palm oil plantations in Indonesia

Our Indonesian project

Milestones

Our partner Konservasi Ekosistem Hutan Sumatera (KEHUS) begins supporting the forestry authority with the protection of a 12,000-hectare forest area southeast of the Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park, where our Jungle School is located.

2020

Orangutan Senja is born. This is the 10th recorded wild birth in Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park.

2018

Local partners take over the management of a special forest concession for 60 years, this comes with the obligation to maintain the concession area in the long term by conserving and restoring forest areas. FZS supports the project.

2015

FZS supports the establishment of the Indonesian foundation Yayasan Konservasi Ekosistem Hutan Sumatera (KEHUS). This organization shares our goal of conserving valuable ecosystems for wildlife.

2014

Our monitoring program for Sumatran tigers begins. Camera traps are used to systematically record the population.

2012

The 150th orangutan is released into the Bukit Tiga Puluh wilderness.

2012

Launch of the endangered Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) protection program.

2010

The Jungle School Open Orangutan Sanctuary (OOS) is established and 100th Orangutan released into the wild.

2009

The FZS environmental education team starts regular visits to schools and communities, motivating different generations to protect their environment.

Since 2009

First recorded birth of a wild baby orangutan in Bukit Tiga Puluh.

2005

Scouts begin patrolling Bukit Tiga Puluh regularly to protect orangutans and other wildlife.

2004

The first orangutan leaves our reintroduction station to live in the Bukit Tiga Puluh wilderness.

2003

The first FZS station for the release of orangutans into the wild starts operation.

2002

Bukit Tiga Puluh is identified as a suitable site for reintroducing orangutans.

2000

Contact

Zoologische Gesellschaft Frankfurt von 1858 e.V.
Bernhard-Grzimek-Allee 1
60316 Frankfurt

Telephone: +49 (0)69 - 94 34 46 0
Fax: +49 (0)69 - 43 93 48
E-Mail

You will find our office in the Zoogesellschaftshaus (1st floor).
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