A true explorer- passionate and motivated, experience the real thing on The Great Orangutan Project. Perfect for wildlife and animal lovers, this volunteer programme appeals to free spirits, eager for a change in lifetsyle and outlook.

Orangutan Encounters

Explore the remote wilderness of Malaysian Borneo on The Great Orangutan Project (GOP). Orangutan Encounters combines all the best of Malaysian zoos and Borneo rainforests, with stop-overs at a specialised, GOP run orangutan re-habilitation centre

The GOP's strength lies in its unique collaboration of orangutan conservation organisations and individuals who exchange knowledge, advice and ideas towards orangutan conservation in Malaysian Borneo. Each project has a shared vision- increase the size and health of Borneon orangutan populations, bringing them back from the brink of extinction

Orangutan Encounters include the following experiences-

Negara and Taiping Zoos

Volunteers take care of animals, through husbandry and enrichment, as shown by the zookeepers. They will be effective in the Ape Centre whilst at Negara and Taiping Zoos, home to orangutans and chimpanzees. Working with the zoo team volunteers gain an insight into orangutan behaviour and take part in the "behind the scenes" action of maintaining the Ape Centre and the zoo

Volunteer and husbandry work involves assisting the keeper in feeding, cleaning, and maintaining orangutan and other ape areas, rotating between orangutan and chimpanzees; possible work with other animals at the zoo makes this opportunity a particularly fascinating one

The idea of enrichment is to stimulate the orangutans and other animals, to improve their living conditions as much as possible and mimic their natural habitat. Enrichment activities might include making fruit ice trays for the orangutans, rope work, box treats or painting the interior of the ape centre

Matang Rehabilitation Centre

Volunteers will visit the Wildlife Centre for a talk and a look behind the scenes in the orangutan holding areas, and the efforts being made to establish rehabilitation and release. There is very little animal interaction here so that the animals can be released successfully. Volunteers will learn about how the centre works and more about orangutan behaviour

Rainforest - Batang Ai National Park

In Batang Ai National Park orangutans roam free and pristine rainforest still survives away from loggers and modern civilization. Volunteers will participate in the ecotourism project at Batang Ai, which is based in an Iban tribal village. Working with the villagers allows them a source of income from orangutans and helps to reinforce conservation within the area. For every volunteer, the village gets paid, which means that they have started to care more for the rainforest animals, and orangutan in particular. This is known as in-situ conservation

This programme is dynamic and ever changing. Work can include teaching English to local children, trail making, orangutan nest counting, infrastructure building and handicraft work-such as weaving

Passionate about animal conservation? A true adventurer? Then Orangutan Encounters cannot fail to fulfil these dreams- a truly life changing experience awaits

0845 3447 582

WOX is a small international environmental and community development projects company. With offices in Malaysia, Mauritus, India and the UK, WOX runs projects such as the Great Orangutan Project and the Great Marine Project and Responsible India. Each project seeks short term volunteers to join their teams and make a difference.