History

The Bohorok Centre for ex-captive and refugee Sumatran orangutans was established in 1973 by two Swiss zoologists, Regina Frey and Monica Boerner, whose funding was originally provided by the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). In 1980 the Centre was taken over by the Indonesian Government. Since then it has received virtually no outside funding, and it no longer operates as a rehabilitation centre for orangutans. It survives on a portion of the permit money paid by visitors. The rangers are paid by the Government, which takes the remaining permit money.

Since it opened in 1973 more than 200 orangutans have been released (almost 50 of these have died but some would have died naturally in the wild).

It is wonderful when rehabilitated females conceive and give birth in the forest. It means the centre has increased the orangutan population as well as giving the infant a chance to grow up in a protected forest area.

Although the Bohorok Centre no longer operates as a rehabilitation centre, Bohorok’s staff remain responsible for approximately 35 ex-captive orangutans who are free to come and go into the surrounding forest, plus another four or so in “quarantine”. The centre has been closed to admitting more orangutans since 1996.

With the recent tourist explosion at Bohorok, the orangutan rehabilitation programme was no longer feasible. The centre no longer meets today’s standards of species re-introduction. Furthermore, the area is already over-saturated with orangutans, and therefore not suitable for releasing more rehabilitants. Releasing ex-captive apes into areas of forest where wild populations exist also risks importing disease. For these and other valid reasons, Bohorok cannot be modified and updated to function again as a rehabilitation centre. The Indonesian government is winding down the project, and funds for maintenance and improvements have decreased.

The apes who remain at Bohorok still need to be cared for, facilities upgraded, further training provided for staff, and controlled eco-tourism implemented. This will require not only funding, but also a comprehensive local education programme to promote sustainable development at Bohorok.

The centre remains open to tourists, providing the incredible opportunity of viewing orangutans in the semi-wild on daily excursions to the feeding platform, an experience which galvanizes support for their conservation and well-being, and fuels the local economy.

It is essential that visitors refrain from touching or feeding the orangutans as they are susceptible to many human illnesses which their immune systems cannot deal with. Since 2000 the volunteer programme is no longer operational.

Tragedy at Bohorok and current situation

A tragedy struck the village of Bukit Lawang on November 2nd 2003. A flash flood swept through the resort, killing over 200 people and making hundreds homeless. Two orangutans also died in the flood. The village was leveled and tourists were advised to stay away for the short term. Authorities are blaming a combination of factors for the tragedy: natural causes exacerbated by extensive illegal logging in the Leuser Ecosystem. Please click here for more information about the flooding.

Officially tourists can still visit and stay in the adjacent village of Gotong Royon. Several people have opened their houses to rent a room as a “homestay”. Trekking is still possible, worthwhile and good. With their livelihoods lost in only 15 minutes, any tourism in the area will help. A new information centre has opened where you can hire a guide for trekking. Park permits are still available from the PHKA office in Bukit Lawang, one of the few buildings still standing. The flood news is no longer in the headlines but the relief work must continue. Bohorok’s staff are currently responsible for supplementing the diet at the feeding platform and for the welfare of the ex-captive orangutans living in the forest surrounding the centre. The SOS continue to provide financial and practical support for both the rangers and the orangutans.

The Feeding Platform

With the help of the SOS the rangers have again started to feed the orangutans at the feeding platform once a day and cleared up the flood debris from around the centre. Tourists are still able to see the semi-wild orangutans visit the forest feeding platform and it is a marvelous sight to see them swinging freely through the jungle. Tourists are delighted how close up they can view these amazing animals, although it is imperative that there is no direct contact and the rangers ensure that visitors maintain a reasonable distance.

They are normally fed twice a day at the feeding platform. They are free to receive their meal of bananas and milk if they want. They are purposely only fed a monotonous diet to encourage them to forage in the wild. However the apes love the bananas and milk. Different orangutans come on different days and the feeding enables the rangers to observe the apes to make sure they are coping well with living in the wild.

Future for Bohorok

Several environmentally conscious proposals are being considered to rebuild people’s lives. It is a time when eco-tourism at Bukit Lawang can really begin and model practices can be put into action. It is, of course, imperative that Bohorok functions with due consideration of the wildlife/tourist balance, so as to benefit locals, tourists and orangutans alike. For many years now, the SOS has been assisting the centre with practical and financial support, including educational materials, maintenance, upgrades and providing equipment and medical supplies (see ‘About SOS’).

With local support, Bohorok can develop into an Eco-tourist Viewing Area, a project which the SOS aims to help implement, develop and maintain in conjunction with PanEco. The orangutans at Bohorok will benefit from the implementation of eco-tourism. Facilities must be upgraded and stringent guidelines must be implemented to prohibit close contact between tourists and apes, which risks the spread of disease. The centre will continue to provide local people with a lasting source of income by putting into practice the economic benefits of eco-tourism.

Sumber :Sumatran Orangutan Society