Duties

The duties of the volunteer range from enrichment, husbandry, and construction work around orangutans, sunbears and other animals at the Wildlife Centre. The work on this project mainly involves enrichment. "enrichment", the process of improving their surroundings to stimulate their physical and mental health. You will provide enrichment for animals in their enclosures. Some of these animals may never be released or may be released over a long period of time, so it is important to give them the best quality of life possible. Additionally, the enrichment is also cleverly designed to encourage natural behaviours, for instance climbing to reach their food, or discovering new plants that they would find in the wild such as palm hearts. The type of enrichment you will produce will depend on the work at the centre that month.

Sometimes it will be food enrichment, sometimes it will be building platforms, sometimes swings, maybe hammocks to replicate nests, or installing ropes. This will ultimately prepare the orangutans and other animals for release back into the wild and increase their chances of survival.
You may also be involved with the scatterfeeding of the sunbear enclosures. There is limited construction work and may not be available during your stay. You may be involved in building specific rehabilitation structures and facilities.

This will include walkways, feeding platforms, and maybe even small ranger stations in the forest. Please be aware that this type of activity will not occur every month and it is virtually impossible to accurately tell you when this will occur.

Itinerary

Day 1: Kuching: Arrive Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia and connect to Kuching, Sarawak Malaysian Borneo. Arrive at Kuching Airport. Meet and greet and get taken to Basaga Guest House in Kuching. Welcome dinner in the evening with volunteer supervisor and orientation (1 night).
Day 2 to 13The Wildlife Centre: Breakfast and then check out. Take private transfer to Kubah National Park Wildlife Centre - Orangutan Sanctuary. Settle into new home. Meet mentor. Commence volunteer programme. Weekly allowance is given for food at the supermarket. There are additional activities available such as visiting a long house and meeting the Iban tribes, visit nearby markets and social and interactive activities with locals and researchers at centre.

The duties of the volunteer range from enrichment, husbandry, and construction work around orangutans, sunbears and other animals at the Wildlife Centre. The work on this project mainly involves enrichment. "Enrichment", the process of improving their surroundings to stimulate their physical and mental health. Sometimes it will be food enrichment, sometimes it will be building platforms, sometimes swings, maybe hammocks to replicate nests, or installing ropes. This will ultimately prepare the orangutans and other animals for release back into the wild and increase their chances of survival.

You may also be involved with the scatterfeeding of the sunbear enclosures. There is limited construction work and may not be available during your stay. You may be involved in building specific rehabilitation structures and facilities. This will include walkways, feeding platforms, and maybe even small ranger stations in the forest. Please be aware that this type of activity will not occur every month and it is virtually impossible to accurately tell you when this will occur.

Day 14:Kuching: The programme ends for the 2 week volunteer programme. Take private transfer to Kuching. Check in riverside hostel. (1 night) Or continues at the centre for another 2 weeks making up the 4 week programme (28 days).
Day 15/27: After breakfast. Check out and farewell. Take private transfer to Kuching Airport. Depart.
*Please note that itineraries are subject to change

What Makes this Project Great

The Great Orangutan Project's conservation goal is to work with our partners towards genetically sustainable orangutan populations in large, well-protected habitats within Sarawak in order to secure the survival of the species. We use volunteers and tours to fund our work, and are twice winners of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism awards (Highly Commended for 2009 and 2010) for demonstrating how volunteering and tourism are tools to conservation of animals abroad. You will break from your everyday life to volunteer at the Wildlife Centre in Sarawak Malaysia Borneo, focusing your time on improving the lives of the resident animals. You will get the opportunity to witness the problems the conservation team face on a daily basis and help to overcome these challenges by providing much needed help to the group.

Learn of, and take part in, conservation efforts to assist a whole host of endemic endangered wildlife, from the sun bears to binturongs, from macaques to false gharials. If you have dreamed of assisting the conservation efforts vital to the survival of the orangutans, then this is the project for you.
Probably the largest orangutan in the world! Did you know the world's first eye cataract operation was facilitated by Great Orangutan Project and carried out at theWildlife Centre on the great alpha male called Aman. We think that Aman must be the largest alpha male orangutan on the planet. Volunteers enjoy creating enrichment toys for this great personality.

As the Great Orangutan Project, we were also successful with a double birth of baby orangutans, rescue of baby orangutans and release of orangutans. In 2008 alone a government paper reported that Great Orangutan Project's 121 volunteers at the Wildlife Centre brought in more funds to conservation than 95,000 tourists on an "orangutan holiday". The positive effect we have in Sarawak continues as long as you believe we can help secure a future for species like orangutans. Make the global crisis of near extinction of animals on the IUCN red list, like the orangutan, your personal mission and have a hand in securing the future of wild populations of apes, bears, and big cats living free.

FAQs

What skills do you need on this placement in Borneo?
Volunteers should love animals and be willing to work hard. The work is physical and the temperature in Borneo high so volunteers should have a decent fitness level. All participants should be able to speak good English and be able to work as part of a team. Previous experience with animals or veterinary knowledge is especially welcomed. Building and maintenance takes up around 40% of your time so DIY skills will come in handy!

Where does my donation go?
Donations are spent on:
1. Enrichment - food (food parcels and a wide variety of different interesting foods) and physical enrichment (like hammocks and rope swings)
2. Construction - on materials and tools for getting orangutans out of cages and maintaining existing outdoor enclosures (everything from spades, to cement, to wheelbarrows, to nuts and bolts)
3. Reforestation - helping to create more species diverse forest by planting primary rainforest species under the pioneer tree canopy ( such as dipterocarpaceae, fabaceae and malvaceae) in certain areas. Also, we plant up species where we create destruction during the building process, such as recently when a digger dug out the island moats.

What are the conditions and the accommodation like?
The setting is idyllic. You will be living in a remote rainforest area in the heart of Sarawak Borneo with a small river running through it, complete with jungle animals and sounds. There will also be short bursts of rain most days so be prepared for that too - it is a rainforest after all! And the ground can be slippery under foot so bring good walking shoes that do not absorb too much water and weigh you down. Telephone communications are poor though we ensure that you can phone out for emergencies.

The accommodation is based in a jungle chalet amongst the staff quarters which ensures maximum safety. The house has everything you need, a bedroom with fan, a sitting room, dining area, simple kitchen and bathroom but this is jungle living at its best and you should not expect luxury. The shower runs cold water only but in the tropics this is a blessing - sort of! There is always the alternative of bathing in the jungle stream. You will have to bring your own mosquito net (with tape to secure it to the ceiling as there are no nails) but the geckos tend to help keep the insect population down for you.

For more FAQs please see our FAQ section here

Reviews

Casey Murtagh, 30 Australia. 2 week project January 2012
What memory will you take away with you forever? Your favourite moment…
My favourite moment was with Aman, he wouldn’t leave his indoor cage to go outside. Alvin kept hiding behind the bin trying to trick him but he is so so clever. After a while, the boys had to give up and accept Aman wasn’t going anywhere for that day. I sat crossed legged against the wall and chatted to Aman and studied him, he is the most beautiful creature i have ever seen up close. I admired his strength and respected him as we threw leaves back and forth across the walkway. It was a nice moment because i wasn’t sharing it with anyone, it was just my few minutes with the big fella!!! XXXX

Alison Callaway, 32 UK. 2 week project August 2009
What was your favourite moment?
Ali the orangutan, having his shower in the mornings was one of my fabourite memories and seeinghim climb to the top of his tower was an achievment! Also seeing the little orphan and hearing his story was very sad and sobering.

Peta Marceau, 29 Australia. 2 week project January 2012
Would you recommend this program to others? What advice would you extend to future participants?
I already have!! I would recommend to watch your head and don’t take your passport into the torrential rain. Also to make the most of the experience, enjoy every second because the memories I have and the friends I made make me smile whenever I think about Matang.

Carrie Richards, 20 UK. 4 week project July 09
Would you recommend this program to others?
Yes it was a fantastic experience and I learnt a lot about orangutans, conservations and the culture in Borneo. I met a lot of great people and got the chance to do and experience things that I may never get the chance to do again.

Important Information

How do I go about booking my flights?
Please try to book your flights as far as possible in advance of your departure as flights become more expensive with time. We will provide you with some additional information in the 'Know Before You Go' pack that we send when we have received your deposit. If you have any difficulties feel free to contact our support team.
Volunteers are recommended to book international and internal flights direct to Kuching Airport. Please ensure arrival times are within 7am and 5pm to ensure meet and greet. Recommended airlines that depart from Europe, Australia and US include Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia, and Singapore Airlines. Ask your volunteer coordinator for more advice on flight arrangements or email info@thegreatprojects.com

Will I get to touch the orangutans?
No. We do not allow direct contact because humanization is counter-productive to rehabilitation. Released orangutans that are used to humans may approach human habitations, risking injury or death, and are more likely to attack humans as they search for food and water. There is also the risk that due to the huge amount of shared genetic material between humans and orangutans diseases are transferred easily.

When can i travel?
To avoid disappointment please contact us as soon as possible to reserve a place.

Please read our responsible volunteer policy and orangutan protection policy on responsible volunteering abroad with primates.

Donation: Donations are built into the programme
What's Included:
• Airport transfers.
• Overland transportation
• Single accommodation
• Food (3 meals a day)
• Activities on project site
• Conservation donation.

What's Not Included:
• All flights
• Vaccinations
• Travel insurance
• Alcoholic beverages.

Videos