Volunteer program

By volunteering with OHP, you will be contributing to the research and conservation goals of the project. It is hoped that these efforts will lead to an improved understanding of how best to promote the long-term survival of the orangutan and its unique ecosystem by improving our understanding of both.

VOLUNTEER TEAM DATES FOR 2010 ARE:

• January 4-17
• February 1-14
• March 1-13
• April 5-17
• May 3 -15
• June 7-19
• July 5-17
• August 2-14
• September 6-18
• October 4-16
• November 1-13
• December 6-18

Principal Investigator: MVDr Ivona Foitova PhD
Qualifications: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, PhD study of Diseases of Wild Animals and Animals in Zoological Gardens from Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University of Brno, Czech Republic, Europe.
Affiliations: UMI - Saving of Pongidae Foundation.
Research Site: Leuser Ecosystem, North Sumatra, Indonesia.
Rendezvous site: Polonia International Airport in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia.
Cost: US$1,289 (excluding flights, insurance and tourist visa) / US$990 for students (excluding flights, insurance and tourist visa).
Team size: Minimum 2, maximum 8.

Your participation fee is used to cover all the day-to-day expenses of running the project, including food and accommodations for volunteers and staff, operation of the project base, lab equipment and supplies, and helps provide the funds necessary to transport faecal, plant, and soil samples abroad for important analysis work. We also pay the full cost of national park permits, at tourist rates. Any "leftovers" are invested in the future expansion of the project, including the building of an ambitious new research station in an area of forest previously unstudied. This area is home to a significant population of wild orangutans and the new station will go a long way to protecting their habitat while simultaneously providing a site for conservation education, an international summer school and an expansion of research.

The project is proud to be able to provide important work for the local community and employs only local guides for trekking in the forest.

A SAMPLE VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE MAY GO AS FOLLOWS:

Day 1: Arrive in Medan, travel to project, orientation to location, rest and recuperate.

Day 2: Orientation to project and tasks. Start work in the office.

Day 3: Visit the orangutan feeding platform and practice trek in the forest. Second visit to feeding or free-time (swimming/tubing, etc.)

Day 4: Volunteer tasks at base (see below).

Days 5-10: Fieldwork/trekking with overnight stays in the forest carrying
out tasks necessary to the project's research (see below). Three meals per day and water are provided.
Alternatively, several one-day treks in the jungle to carry out tasks necessary to the project's research (no overnight camping)

Day 11: Field work data processing.

Day 12: Free day. (Re-visit feeding platform/swimming/tubing/opportunity for cultural outings.) Volunteer BBQ.

Day 13: Travel to Medan (AM) for afternoon flights.

IMPORTANT: The above is only an example of a possible schedule of activities. It is always subject to change based on the needs of the project. Staying overnight in the forest is not guaranteed and will be based on considerations such as weather, staff availability, number of volunteers, and most importantly, physical fitness of the volunteers.

POSSIBLE RESEARCH TASKS AT BASE:

• Entering behavioural data collected by Field Assistants
• Organising samples of orangutan foodstuffs and preparing for our herbarium
• Organising faecal samples collected by Field Assistants
• Preparing equipment for Field Assistants to go to the forest
• Preparing behavioural data sheets
• Preparing sample bottles for Field Assistants
• Shopping for project supplies in town or at the local market
• Brainstorming ideas to help the project’s promotion
• Keeping temperature, weather and humidity data records updated
• Cleaning project office and accommodation

POSSIBLE RESEARCH TASKS IN THE FOREST:

• Locating areas with a significant wild orangutan population
• Finding and following orangutans to collect behavioural data and faecal and plant samples
• Nest counting to provide seasonally varying estimates of the orangutan population
• Fruit trail transects to record the range of foodstuffs available to orangutans in an area

Volunteers on every team will get proper instruction and information about the following matters:

• The project and your role/responsibilities within it
• Safe behaviour in tropical countries, potential health risks and precautions
• Proper sample collecting techniques and data entry protocols
• Advice about the best clothing and equipment for work in the forest
• Local flora and fauna and especially about the orangutans
• Indonesian culture, basic language, and appropriate behaviour in Sumatra

In addition, volunteers may also be given presentations on wildlife research and conservation, parasite finding in orangutans and field parasite diagnostic methodology. The most important fact - there will be absolutely NO physical contact with the orangutans. If you are hoping to come so that you can cuddle one of these amazing creatures, then this is not for you. This rule will be strictly enforced if necessary. We also cannot guarantee encounters with orangutans – our research focuses on wild orangutans and much of our work therefore takes place in areas where the orangutans themselves can be quite elusive, often staying high up in the canopy or travelling to other areas where more fruit is in season. This is the reality of wildlife fieldwork. However, should you be lucky enough to catch even a short glimpse of one of these graceful creatures in its natural habitat, the experience will certainly stay with you forever.

You will have free time to enjoy the beauties of the Indonesian culture and environment.

Being near a fast running river, rafting is available. Costs can range from around US$15 to US$75 for a half day. There is also "tubing" which is a cheaper option and lots of fun (about US$5/day to rent an inner-tube)! It is also possible to go for a longer walk to a smaller but deeper river for some swimming and to see more of the local scenery.

If this isn't fast enough action for you, it's also possible to rent a motorbike (with or without driver) and go for a tour of the local area. There is a bat cave and a number of other rivers and waterfalls to be discovered and explored

If you're worn out after all this, the local people are excellent at giving massages to those tired limbs, and the prices are very reasonable!

As you require a 30-day tourist visa to enter Indonesia and will be with the project for 13 days of this, you have an excellent opportunity to explore more of this incredibly diverse country. For a better idea of what is available, have a look at:
www.indonesia-tourism.com
www.expeditionjungle.com

We run one team per month for 13 days (this can increase if interest is great). Minimum of two team members, maximum of eight.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is VERY basic, but clean. While staying at our base, you will probably share accommodation with other volunteers, depending on the number of volunteers in your team. You will have a bed, a mosquito net, and a small "bathroom" with a basic non-western toilet (squat-style toilet, which flushes when water is run through). You will be asked to clean yourself as per the local custom, using only water and your left hand after using the toilet, so as to avoid blockages caused by paper. There will be no shower, but a supply of cold water that you scoop over yourself to wash. All our base accommodation has electricity unless there's an outage, which often happens during heavy rain. There's a variety of insects and small animals around for you to get acquainted with - cats, geckos, ducks, rats, cockroaches, leeches, chickens, spiders and a variety of nameless critters. While trekking you will be camping in the jungle for up to 5 nights at a time with only a tarpaulin and thin foam mat separating you from the forest floor. Food will be cooked over an open fire and water from a clean river nearby boiled to provide safe drinking water.

Meals will be taken three times a day. There is no menu, and the food will be basic Indonesian cuisine, which mainly consists of rice, noodles, vegetables, eggs and occasionally chicken/fish. It is simple, but also tasty, utilising varying amounts of chilli, but rarely without. Fruit is plentiful, and you won't find many places in the world with more variety. Vegetarians can easily be catered for.

INTERESTED?

Then drop us a line on orangutanhealth@nusa.net.id or ivona_foi@hotmail.com (emergency only) and we can supply you with further details.
If you would like to get in touch with previous volunteers, please e-mail us for a contact list.

VOLUNTEER COMMENTS

“It was a very exciting, interesting and also relaxing time for us here with you. Thank you for showing us so much, not just about orangutans, but also about life here in Sumatra and how the research project works. Although we did not see any wild orangutans, we enjoyed seeing a few at the feeding platform. And I feel we have contributed a bit toward the research and local work in the interest of those beautiful apes. I think we could work a bit more at times, but maybe our role comes more into play after we leave here. I am definitely telling everybody about my experience here. Thank you for a great experience and making our stay (here) so much fun. Good luck with all the research.”
Kristin, March 2006

“(Volunteering short-term) gave me the chance to do something “useful” again. The program is well thought out and is running smoothly. Rachel (our PA) lead the program very well. I have got an idea now of what is involved in field work and got an insight into the local culture as the project seems very well embedded in the local community. Seeing the orangutans is, of course, a great experience. I feel that my financial investment will be well used, as local labour is used, which makes the money reach a long way. I am sure that indirect results are achieved by raising awareness among the locals. Thanks for the interesting experience.”
Jens, March 2006

“What an amazing experience the past 2 weeks have been. I have had so much fun, as well as learn(ed) so much at the same time. Everything has been awesome, the people, the food, the orangutans…I really don’t want to go home yet! Thank you so much to Mbra, Wanda, Amin, Rahman, Sophie and Andrea for taking care of me and helping me to have so much fun! This has been a very rewarding experience and I will definitely never forget it.”
Emma, July 2006

“Spending the last 2 weeks in Sumatra has definitely changed my life. Before coming here I was not sure what to expect and how I (would) deal with living under such different conditions. I loved it!! I have never felt so close to nature. Living under basic conditions was great…walking through the rainforest (it was my first time ever) was exhausting, but I learned so much for myself not just about orangutans, but also about me. But what really made this stay unforgettable was the people. In addition, I discovered my love for leeches. They are so wonderful, blood-sucking whatever thingies. Thanks to them I have great blood pictures. So, terima kasih to Sophie, Andrea, Mbra, Wanda, Amin, Min, Rahman, Mbak War and of course, the other volunteers.”
Stephanie, July 2006

“Thank you for a wonderful time in Indonesia …I really enjoyed the treks, but the transect terrain was very difficult at times. I think you should make it clear in the handbook that you must be able to do 10km a day on very steep terrain (almost climbing at times). Generally, I think you are very honest in the handbook about the conditions that the expedition has. I think that you should stress more that you must leave some vanities behind in coming here and it is not a holiday as some volunteers may be expecting more luxuries that they are used to in the UK. (not me!) All in all I had a lovely time and was able to overcome some fears in the jungle! Karen and Abi couldn’t have been nicer or worked harder…thank you so much! Keep up the good work!”
Jennifer, April 2007

“Overall, this was such an amazing experience... I am a Marine Biologist, and came to this project to get out of the water. This has been my first land-based research project that I have done, and I loved it. With that said, I do want to say that it has been a true challenge here. I am pretty physically fit in the areas that I work in, and this type trekking was completely out of my realm. With true team spirit, I made it. The area is completely amazing....purely majestic! I feel that we have truly had a thorough experience here; orangutans, leeches, trekking the 600m transect and finishing, siamangs, white-handed gibbons, pig-tailed and long-tailed macaques, and the bungi buncki (stinky flower). I feel that the work you are doing here is crucial. Without this project, I think a lot would be lost to the orangutans and Bukit Lawang. Keep up the great work. I think you guys are doing so many great things, and properly. I have worked on similar projects elsewhere, and this one I think says enough in the handbook, and then explained again once here. No messing around! Thank you for an amazing time...you never know, maybe I will be back!”
Brettany, June 2007

“What an amazing adventure! This program has really opened my eyes to semi-wild and wild orangutans and has definitely highlighted the difficulty that researchers face tracking these primates, they are so elusive and the terrain is tough. I have a much better understanding now, of why field research takes so long. I have enjoyed every minute and have survived my jungle experience, leeches, maggots, spiders, tigers and anything else that wanted to either suck my blood or eat me. My encounter with wild orangutans was amazing, to see them doing their thing was just totally cool. At the time, I couldn’t really appreciate her beauty, due to being absolutely knackered having followed her up and down a vine and tree infested mountain! Also survived a potential life threatening encounter with a very prickly caterpillar, man it hurt! There has been an awesome amount of ‘jungle spirit’ within the group, couldn’t have asked for nicer people to have met…the guides on the project are very knowledgeable of the area and I feel that I can trust them with my safety. Wanda is full of info and a blessing to the project. I definitely would recommend my family and friends to do this project.”
Briony, June 2007

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the project, it was even better than I imagined it could be. Everyone here has been so fantastic…all of the guides are incredible at what they do and are so friendly. The feeding platform is a fantastic semi-wild experience…the trek (in the jungle) was unbelievable, I know we were so lucky with what we have seen. I have also found the data so interesting (I’m about to start Msc in Applied Statistics with Applications in Medicine) and I can see how the data can be used and how helpful an insight into orangutans this could be. Finally, I feel privileged to have been involved in this project and I’m sure I’ll be back in Sumatra some day.”
Hannah, July 2007

“The trekking during this project is real. It is exactly what I signed up for. I am 100% satisfied with the quality time spent in the forest. The fact that we actually saw wild orangutans makes this experience more than I could have imagined. The food was good and there was plenty of it…though I could have used a bit more fuel for lunch toward the end of our trekking days. The guides are knowledgeable and listen to the needs of the volunteers. The science is real and the practices gave me a good understanding of what field work entails…I am very satisfied with the project and have gotten everything and more than I expected to get out of this experience. I am grateful for everyone involved in the project and their efforts to improve the lives of orangutans.”
Brian, July 2007

“I have to say, this was probably the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life…the trekking was very difficult at times, but hearing and seeing the wild orangutans made it all worth it. We really were a team out there, and I don’t think anyone felt alone or out of place. Mbra and Wanda were great guides…This was definitely an experience that could not be had anywhere else in the world. I have studied orangutans in captivity and in books, but seeing the natural habitat, the nests, food that has been eaten by the orangutans, seeing the orangutans themselves (and actually enjoying the waiting game for them to defecate!), and most amazingly, hearing the long call of a dominant male, was truly inspirational. It was great learning how to record data out in the field as well as on the computer back at Coconut…This trip was truly amazing, and I would recommend it to pretty much everyone with even a slight interest in apes, nature, or hiking, or anyone looking to experience something completely different. Thanks everyone!”
Janice, July 2007

“Absolutely awesome. Coconut is relaxed, yet professional… the food is simply excellent, at every meal… the guides are entertaining, sagely and brilliant cooks… I can’t imagine a better way to infiltrate the local culture AND access the depths of the rainforest…*!@?*!@?* brilliant experience, thank you all!”
Volunteer, August 2007

“What a great experience to be had – food, culture, natural rainforest environment all in one package… and what a great country and group to be in! One of the best experiences of my life for sure! Hopefully the project continues in this direction and can aid in conservation issues in the near future.”
Volunteer, August 2007

“Our most serious complaint about our time with the project is that we don’t have anything to complain about. Mami was marvelous. Karen was endlessly charming. Clare is an angel. Wanda is a genius. Romi is an inspiration. Rudi is a saint. The trek was challenging and exhausting, but ultimately invigorating. The jungle was fascinating and beautiful. The river was breathtaking. The accommodations were as advertised: spartan but clean and comfortable. The food was superb. The company was delightful. The office work was tedious, of course, but it felt genuinely useful. As you said in your materials, this trip is not for everyone. But it was perfect for (us).”
Barry and Susan, February 2008

“Office tasks were as I expected – monotonous but necessary. Food was great – good cooks. I feel we had enough free time/flexibility to do/see things we wanted to. Plus, the staff was always helpful always with suggestions of places to go and with helping us to organise plans – this wasn’t expected but a nice surprise. Trekking was very full-on and challenging. Staff all very polite and helpful and field guides lovely. Overall, it has exceeded my expectations and I am glad that I chose to come!”
Megan, May 2008

“Overall, the project was a very positive experience. It was well organised and we were clearly told all objectives and the schedule on the first day. Office tasks were straight-forward and gave an insight into orangutan behaviour and how staff spent their time gathering data in the field. The six day trek was definitely the most enjoyable time, where the whole group of volunteers really got to know each other and worked well as a team. I think the amount of work expected of us was more than reasonable. The support provided by all staff and assistants here has been first rate – regardless of staff’s role in the project. All in all, had an amazing time and would definitely recommend the project to others. Thank you!”
Rosemary, May 2008

“Everything about the project was amazing… the locals and (OHP staff) were all immensely friendly and I thoroughly enjoyed working with them. The long trek into the jungle was incredible, I have never experienced anything like it before…Wanda’s knowledge of the forest was incredible….”
Alex, August 2008

“Accommodation as expected and as described. Basic but adequate. Food – as advertised! Mainly Indonesian, so spicy for my Western palate, but excellent. Trekking was a fantastic experience – very challenging but thoroughly enjoyable. We were extremely well looked after from food to support whilst actually trekking. I am physically fit and healthy, however, any person attending with a lower level of fitness would have struggled…in a challenging, often very demanding environment. Obviously, this is the jungle. Overall, a great experience, thoroughly enjoyed! Thank you very much to all involved!”
Kim, October 2008

“(This) has proven to be an interesting and fulfilling experience. I loved the multifaceted nature of this project; the conservation angle, the cultural facets and the options for adventure… the guides on the trek are extremely knowledgeable and willing to educate and discreet enough not to laugh when you have to just “skid” down the last sore of greasy jungle slope. The project (base) is comfortable enough, the food is great – Mami is a gem.”
Mike, September 2008

“The project was very well organised. Accommodation was very comfortable, and the food was really excellent, giving me a good insight into Indonesian cuisine. The ratio of planned (time) to free time was well balanced. Trekking was very good, and adapted well to the needs of the individual. I really could not fault the project in any way, and shall remember this experience for the rest of my life. Thank you for all your help and kindness.”
Catherine, September 2008

“As much as I was looking forward to spending time here, I was at the same time insecure, scared, timid and unsure if I had made the right decision. I feel positive at the end, it has been one of my greatest experiences, especially at this time of my life. Thank you for a wonderful memory that I will always carry with me. This project took on, for me, many twists and turns, good, bad and indifferent. But I would not have changed one single moment or emotion in those twists and turns.”
Linda, September 2008

“The whole experience has been amazing, and I genuinely believe it still would have been fab even if I hadn’t seen any orangutans. Office work was fine, a little dull, but I expected it to be much more monotonous and (expected) more if it, so even that was better than my expectations…The added cultural aspects have added a lot to my knowledge of the culture and area…Two amazing weeks! Childhood dream come true! Thank you guys!!”
Sarah, June 2009

“I have enjoyed all aspects of my stay. It exceeded my expectations in the diversity we have had a chance to experience. The best part was definitely the trekking, but I think it has been great to have the chance to live in a local village and get to know the community…I have truly enjoyed every minute here largely in part to the PC and PA’s efforts to make us feel comfortable and happy. Thanks!”
Crystal, June 2009

“Amazing experience which I really really loved and got so much out of. Accommodation was brilliant…no problems, really comfortable. Food was also really good and a lot more varied than I thought it would be…I think we had a perfect amount of free time and were given a wide range of activities (that) we could do and I really enjoyed all of the things we did…The trekking was unbelievable, the best part. I absolutely loved it and was not expecting to see so much. All the guides and people who helped out were so helpful and nice and food was delicious, so was the hot chocolate. Overall, AMAZING!”
Hadley, June 2009

At the base	In the night	Base	Fallen tree
Crossing a river	Data entry	During a trek	During a trek
Free time	Lunch after a practice trek	Mami- our cook	Office tasks
Office tasks - herbarium	Office tasks	Path to the base	Project base
Rest time during the trek	Shopping at Bohorok	Top of the bus	Transportation
Trek at Landak	Trek	View from our base	Walking along a tree
Wild orangutan