PLEASE SAVE GUNDUL

The Issue

BACKGROUND

 

The first of many letters I sent to the CEO of BOSF. I included in my letter photos of the four orangutans. He ignored all

my letters (copied to others in BOSF) and he ignored the orangutans. “Rambo”, a baby orangutan, dies about four weeks later. “Gundul” I went to see for myself very recently. When in Indonesia I again emailed the CEO of BOSF begging him to help Gundul. He ignored my request.

 

I think you will see from my letter below I have been polite as well as understanding of the challenges facing BOSF. Gundul will, because she has been in captivity for so long, not be suitable for return to the forest, but she could live safely with other orangutans in a rescue centre with a roof over her head.

 

 

13th August 2012

To:

Dr. Ir. Jamartin Sihite

 

Dear Jamartin,

I am writing to ask if BOSF will please accept the four orangutans illustrated below into Samboja Lestari without delay?

As we both know, orangutans like these four have suffered enough and could die from an illness at any moment.

My understanding from COP is they have written recently and asked BOSF to accept these orangutans. All four orangutans are big news throughout social media and clearly this is not helpful to BOSF or the orangutans.

I have a reasonable understanding of the pressures upon BOSF but I ask you please not to allow these four orangutans to suffer a day longer, and bring them to Samboja Lestari where I suspect conditions may not be as ideal as you would like, but better and safer than where these four are now. Doing so will be wonderful for the orangutans and BOSF will rightfully receive a lot of praise on Facebook/Twitter etc.

Many thanks.

 

Kind regards,

Sean Whyte

CEO

Nature Alert

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Friends of the Orangutans (Malaysia)Petition Starter
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This petition had 6,270 supporters

The Issue

BACKGROUND

 

The first of many letters I sent to the CEO of BOSF. I included in my letter photos of the four orangutans. He ignored all

my letters (copied to others in BOSF) and he ignored the orangutans. “Rambo”, a baby orangutan, dies about four weeks later. “Gundul” I went to see for myself very recently. When in Indonesia I again emailed the CEO of BOSF begging him to help Gundul. He ignored my request.

 

I think you will see from my letter below I have been polite as well as understanding of the challenges facing BOSF. Gundul will, because she has been in captivity for so long, not be suitable for return to the forest, but she could live safely with other orangutans in a rescue centre with a roof over her head.

 

 

13th August 2012

To:

Dr. Ir. Jamartin Sihite

 

Dear Jamartin,

I am writing to ask if BOSF will please accept the four orangutans illustrated below into Samboja Lestari without delay?

As we both know, orangutans like these four have suffered enough and could die from an illness at any moment.

My understanding from COP is they have written recently and asked BOSF to accept these orangutans. All four orangutans are big news throughout social media and clearly this is not helpful to BOSF or the orangutans.

I have a reasonable understanding of the pressures upon BOSF but I ask you please not to allow these four orangutans to suffer a day longer, and bring them to Samboja Lestari where I suspect conditions may not be as ideal as you would like, but better and safer than where these four are now. Doing so will be wonderful for the orangutans and BOSF will rightfully receive a lot of praise on Facebook/Twitter etc.

Many thanks.

 

Kind regards,

Sean Whyte

CEO

Nature Alert

avatar of the starter
Friends of the Orangutans (Malaysia)Petition Starter
Media enquiries

The Decision Makers

BOS Australia
BOS Australia
Responded
“Gundul is not alone and we are all aware of many Orangutans that need help. Some are in even worse situations that Gundul. Unfortunately ( Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation ( BOSF) facilities are full and their budget is stretched especially as have this year released 29 Orangutans back to the wild and have another 120 more rescheduled for the coming year. Releasing Orangutans back to the wild is their first priority. Also without releases there is no space to take on more needy Orangutans. Each orangutan BOSF take in cost them about $3,000 a year to look after. The orangutans live for 40 to 50 years. Unfortunately, an orangutan like Gundul will never be released back to the forest. She is too old to train for the wild. She will always need supplementary feeding and she will not be able to learn the skills she needs to survive in the Bornean Jungle. Taking on Gundul is an $90,000 decision! BOSF simply do not have this money. Taking her in without extra money puts at risk all the other 830 plus orangutans in their care. We are all as sad as you are about Gundul. It is clear that more sanctuary places are needed in Eastern Borneo. We need more people who are willing to dedicate their lives to saving these wonderful animals. But surely, it is not right or helpful to blame those who already do. Attacking a not for profit organization who have saved over 2,000 Orangutans is not the solution to this problem. Whilst we understand Sean Whytes passion that must be accompanied by money to make action possible. Sean is well aware the difficulties that BOSF work under. Maybe we can challenge Sean to help raise those funds required. What would really make a difference is if the concern and compassion shown by people such as you can be converted to a fundraising drive to save Orangutans like Gundul. ”
Orangutan Protection Foundation
Orangutan Protection Foundation
Responded
“Thank you for your email and your heartfelt concern for Gundul. We are aware of her case and it is being investigated. Alas, this is but one example of a more widespread epidemic that exists across Indonesia. We are always in desperate need of funding to help all orangutans in need. Yet despite challenging funding circumstances, times of austerity and limited space and resources, the level of care provided by BOS Foundation for the more than 800 orangutans currently in its care is simply extraordinary. No organisation has achieved more on the ground in the last 20 years for the orangutan and its rainforest habitat, a period that has seen hundreds rescued, rehabilitated and released back to safe forest. As a fundraising organisation here in the UK, our role is to help our donors help as many orangutans as possible through the excellent efforts of BOS Foundation. OPF contributes a high level of support to BOS Foundation via our donors, and we will continue to do our utmost to ensure that work will continue far into the future. Like you, our greatest wish is that not one single orangutan would ever suffer. Greed and an ever-expanding palm oil industry are what cause this suffering. BOS Foundation does everything within its power to alleviate that suffering. It is only by working together and through understanding that we each can be the positive for change that the orangutans need us to be. Kind regards. Dr Gráinne McEntee Head of Operations www.opf.org”
BOSF
BOSF
BOS Germany
BOS Germany
Dr. Ir. Jamartin Sihite
Dr. Ir. Jamartin Sihite
CEO, BOSF

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Petition created on 13 October 2012