The Orangutan Project also known as The Australian Orangutan Project is a non-profit registered Australian environmental organisation[1] established in 1998 by Leif Cocks. The organization focuses on the conservation of orangutans and the preservation and rehabilitation of their forest habitats, primarily in Indonesia. It supports various organizations working in the field, including the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS), the Orangutan Foundation International, and the Orangutan Foundation.[2] It is a part of Wildlife Conservation International (WCI), a non-profit registered Australian environmental organization with affiliates and chapters in Canada, USA, EU and New Zealand.
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2019) |
| Nickname | TOP |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1998 |
| Founder | Leif Cocks |
| Founded at | Australia |
| Type | Nonprofit, NGO |
| Legal status | foundation |
| Purpose | environmental |
| Headquarters | Perth, Western Australia |
| Location |
|
| Troy Kenah | |
Key people | Leif Cocks OAM, |
Parent organization | Wildlife Conservation International Limited |
| Website | www |
Funding
The organization receives funding through public donations, community events, membership fees, orphan orangutan 'adoptions', and grants. As of 30 June 2023, providing funding over AUD$5,037,350 (USD$3,400,868) to wildlife conservation. In 2005, WCI received over $62,000 from the Australian Government's Regional Natural Heritage Program (RNHP) to develop and implement orangutan protection units in the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park region in Sumatra and to monitor and deter illegal logging. [3] In 2006, the organization secured an additional $92,000 from the RNHP to extend the protection efforts to include other species such as the Sumatran elephant and tiger. TOP also received A$207,500 for wildlife surveys in Borneo's forests, including the Ulu Segama reserve, to establish wildlife baseline data and develop a Forest Management Plan focusing on orangutan populations. [4]
Leadership
The Orangutan Project was founded by Leif Cocks, who also serves as the organization's current president. Cocks has been involved in orangutan conservation for over 30 years and has contributed to various projects related to the protection of orangutans and their habitats. He holds a Master of Science from Curtin University, Western Australia, for research on the welfare of orangutans in captivity. Cocks has published several works on the subject, including "Orangutans and their Battle for Survival"[5] and an autobiography titled "Orangutans, My Cousins, My Friends."[6][7][8]
Organizational structure
The Orangutan Project operates as a conservation organization supporting projects across Indonesia and Malaysia.[9] It addresses issues facing fragmented orangutan populations, including rescue, rehabilitation, and release programs, as well as forest habitat protection, regeneration, education, research, and local community partnerships. In 2017, the organization transitioned structurally, leading to the establishment of Wildlife Conservation International Limited, which oversees TOP and its related projects, including the International Elephant Project and the International Tiger Project.[10]
Partnerships
The Orangutan Project collaborates with several regional alliances and organizations focused on orangutan conservation, such as the Sumatran Rescue Alliance and the Borneo Orangutan Rescue Alliance. Its partners include the Centre for Orangutan Protection, Borneo Nature Foundation, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Orangutan Foundation UK, Orangutan Information Centre, and Orang Utan Republik Foundation.[11][12]
References
Further reading
External links
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
