The orangutan rescuers still need your help.

The Human Orangutan Conflict Response Unit (HOCRU) works on the frontline of orangutan protection in Sumatra. Responding to urgent calls around the clock, three HOCRU teams cover the Leuser and Batang Toru landscapes – evacuating Critically Endangered Sumatran orangutans and Tapanuli orangutans from dangerous situations and enabling their return to the wild.

Rescue operations usually involve driving hundreds of miles, often off-road, so it’s vital for the HOCRU teams to have four-wheel-drive trucks they can rely upon. The South Aceh team, who made headlines in 2019 when they rescued an orangutan called Hope who had been shot 74 times, are currently having major problems with their truck – it breaks down regularly and the expense of repairing it is a big drain on the team’s rescue budget. They are doing everything they can to ensure they still get to the orangutans who need their help, but what they really need is a new vehicle – a four-wheel-drive truck that is big enough to carry the whole team and safely transport an orangutan. A second-hand truck would cost around £12,000, but this might be a false economy – it would already have wear and tear, and the repair bills are likely to start stacking up again soon after the team starts using it. Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) therefore want to raise £25,854 to buy the team a brand-new truck that will stay reliable for longer, and for that, they need your help. They have raised £10,620 so far so every donation counts in helping them get closer to their goal.

Please click here if you would like to make a donation.