On June 10 (8 PM, EST), Animal Planet will air Orangutan Diaries, a documentary highlighting the work of Nyaru Menteng, an orangutan sanctuary that faces closure due to lack of funding. The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and animal lover Michaela Strachan have launched an appeal to secure the fate of the hundreds of rescued orangutans by funding the sanctuary in Borneo, Indonesia.

The sanctuary, run by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS), rehabilitates rescued orphaned  orangutans for release back into the wild.  It is now in dire need of funding and WSPA hopes its supporters will help raise the 2 million dollars needed to run the sanctuary until more sustainable funds can be found.

BBC wildlife presenter and WSPA supporter, Michaela Strachan said: “I was shocked by how desperate the situation for orangutans has become in Borneo, with more and more orangutans arriving everyday. The sanctuary is desperately short of money, closure will now become a reality unless we step in and help – right now.”

WSPA's Head of Wildlife, David Eastham added: “The Indonesian government simply doesn't have the funds to carry on the sanctuary's work, so conditions could become unbearably crowded and stressful. If the cycle of rehabilitation and release doesn't continue, the opportunity to save more orangutans could be lost.”

The sanctuary rescues young orangutans that have been orphaned because of Indonesia's growing palm oil industry, which has meant their forest home is now being burnt to the ground to make way for oil-palm plantations.

WSPA works in alliance with animal welfare organizations, like BOS, around the world to create an animal welfare movement and support local initiatives. Through direct field work, campaigning, legislative work, education and training programs, WSPA strives to create a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty ends.

Support the orangutan rescue now >>

Photo: © Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation