Help me help orphaned orangutans

Hi, my name is Ida Lewis. I have been a zoo keeper for 22 years. I have worked with all 4 great apes. My passion is working with Orangutans.

 I have an opportunity to go with the orangutan species survival program (SSP) to Ketapang to help at the Ketapang Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Their primary funding comes from International Animal Rescue. I will be helping with designing permanent enrichment for the cages and enrichment ideas for daily use. Also sharing ideas on positive reinforcement training with the staff. From the staff I will learn about rehabilitating orangutans.  

I have volunteered twice on trips to Borneo and Indonesia to help at Zoo Negara in Kuala Lampur and at Matang wildlife center. These were sponsored trips by the Orangutan  species survival programs (SSP). The first trip was fully funded by myself. I do not get any help from my zoo. I use my own vacation time for these volunteer projects.  At Zoo Negara we worked with the keepers there on positive reinforcement training and we helped them build a termite mound for their chimpanzee exhibit. The second trip to Matang wildlife center, I received a $1000 dollar grant from the American Association of Zookeepers and self-funded the rest. Again, taking my own vacation time to go on the trip. In Matang we  worked with the staff on positive reinforcement training and I helped to build a sunbear climber for their exhibit.

 I am looking for funding to help cover expenses for this trip. I would like to raise $4000.00 to cover airfare and living expenses while there. Again, I will be using my own vacation time to go on this volunteer project with the Orangutan SSP. I will share with you photos and tell you about the people caring for these amazing animals

Photo Bombing Mom

This is a photo I took over in Indonesia in 2012.  As a thank you for helping me go to back to Indonesia to volunteer, you can receive a copy of this print. For a $25 donation you will receive a 5x7, for a $50 donation you will receive a matted 5x7 and for a $100.00 or more donation you will receive a framed 5x7. Just leave me a message where to send the photo.