Australian Orangutan Project present a NATIONAL TOUR - Melbourne Online

Australian Orangutan Project present a NATIONAL TOUR

Leif Cocks and Hardi Baktiantoro with the Australian Orangutan Project

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Hardi Baktiantoro(right) was Lone's assistant at the centre in Kalimantan before he left to take a more active role trying to stop big companies (such as PT. Makin Group in Parenggean and PT.Nabatindo Karya Utama in Central Kalimantan) from logging and burning.

At considerable personal risk, Hardi journeys upriver into the concession areas to observe and document the environmental impact of the plantations.

Hardi also accompanies Lone on her visits to the concessions when she has to rescue displaced orangutans.A brave, outspoken and resolute campaigner, Hardi travelled to the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali in an attempt to capitalise on the media presence, raising awareness of Kalimantan’s destructive deforestation and its terrible consequences for the orangutans.

At an event hosted by Wetlands International, Hardi fronted up to the Governor of Kalimantan and told him what he had seen in the palm oil plantations. The Governor had just been at the podium expressing his determination to protect the forests, and was in an approachable mood. He promised to meet with Hardi after the conference to examine his evidence and take immediate action.

Hardi has now established an NGO called The Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP). His organization conducts environmental impact studies, defends the rights of forest-dwelling peoples, and campaigns against unsustainable or illegal logging by large and small plantations. Working in conjunction with local villagers, COP aims to prevent deforestation and ensure that the decline of the orangutan is halted.

Leif Cocks (below) is the founder of AOP and has been President since its foundation. He is Perth Zoo’s Curator of Exotic Mammals, Board Member of the Great Ape Survival Project (GRASP) Australia and has been working with Orangutans for 22 years.

Leif has been awarded a Masters of Science from Curtin University, Western Australia for his research into the improvement of the welfare of orangutans in captivity. He is author of the book ‘Orangutans and their Battle for Survival’ and wrote the Australasian Guidelines for Housing Orangutans. Leif is a Committee Member of the Australian Species Management Program (ASMP), Artiodactyl Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) Convenor, ASMP Primate Husbandry Advisor and the International Studbrook Keeper for the Critically Endangered Silvery Gibbon.

In 1978 the Australian Orangutan Project was formed

The underlying philosophy of the AOP being: no criticism of fellow orangutan organisations, building partnerships between organisations, and funds to be distributed according to scientifically determined conservation priorities. We help orangutans through providing both funds and expertise to achieve real on-the-ground results.Our mission is “To ensure the survival of both Sumatran and Bornean orangutan species in their natural habitat and promote the welfare of all orangutans.” Thanks to all of the AOP’s executive,staff, committee, volunteers and members, we are making significant and increasing progress towards the mission.

Melbourne Dates

'A Cry from the Wild' tour

When: Saturday 21st February
Where: BMW Edge Theatre – Federation Square,
Corner Swanston & Flinders Streets, Melbourne
Time: 6.00pm
With special guest musicians – “Me & the Grown Ups”
Tickets: $25
Tickets sales & enquiries contact:
Stephen on 0414 284 178 or go to the AOP website @ www.orangutan.org.au

Tour Dates for February 2009:

Sunday 15th Perth

Wednesday 18th Adelaide

Friday 21st Melbourne

Sunday 22nd Canberra

Monday 23rd Sydney

Tuesday 24th Brisbane

Thursday 26th Perth

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