Wild Work Sumatra
In Episode 1 of Wild Work Sumatra we follow Auckland Zoo's primate team leader Amy into the heart of Sumatra's Leuser Ecosystem - the rainforest home of some of the world's most incredible species.
We're introduced to Jack and Agus, two of five rangers that form the Sumatran Ranger Project a conservation team Amy set up in 2016 to reduce human-wildlife conflict in the ‘buffer-zone’ - the space between where people live and work and the forest where wild orangutans, elephants, tigers and rhinoceros reside.
Next we meet the Conservation Response Unit elephants in Tangkahan who are helping to provide a solution for human-elephant conflict in the area.
In Episode 2 of Wild Work Sumatra, Amy introduces us to Mina, an orangutan taken from her mother as a baby in the illegal pet trade before being rescued and released back into the wild in Bukit Lawang, the site of Sumatra’s first orangutan rehabilitation centre.
We learn about Amy’s special relationship with the orangutans of Auckland Zoo – including Charlie who she has worked with for over half her life. Amy discusses how intelligent these arboreal primates are and how their natural skills and behaviours have shaped the design of the Zoo’s expansive new South East Asia Jungle Track which opens this Summer.
Later in this episode we meet John Purba, a senior ranger who knows every orangutan in the Leuser Ecosystem. John believes in conserving the forest and its wildlife so much that he’s set up a school in his own backyard where he teaches conservation and English, that Auckland Zoo is proud to help fund!
Now we’ve met orangutans in the wild, we’ll learn more about the challenges facing them in their rainforest home.
In Episode 3 of Wild Work Sumatra we discuss Greenpeace’s 2018 ‘Rang-tan’ video that went viral after British Supermarket chain Iceland was banned from using it for their Christmas campaign. Amy explains why Auckland Zoo supports the use of sustainable palm oil and exactly how it benefits wildlife and wild places.
Next we meet Nayla from the Orangutan Information Centre, who shows us the important work they're doing to replant native forest that was once the site of illegal palm oil plantations; and Jack who used to be an illegal logger in this area before he became involved in the forest's conservation. He's now part of the Sumatran Ranger Project, a conservation team initiated by Amy in 2016 to reduce human-wildlife conflict within the 'buffer zone' of the Leuser Ecosystem.
In the final episode of Wild Work Sumatra we meet Leuser – an orangutan that was attacked with a machete and shot 62 times with an air rifle, leaving him with permanent blindness.
Thankfully for Leuser our partners at Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) were able to rescue him and care for his wounds. Due to the nature of his injuries he isn’t able to be rehabilitated and released like the majority of the orangutans that come through their quarantine centre. Instead, he’ll live out his days at the Orangutan Haven - a sanctuary and education centre that is currently in development.
Amy meets up with Ian Singleton, the director of SOCP, who shows us around the haven and explains the concept behind creating a beautiful home for these primates.
We hope you enjoyed learning more about the Wild Work you help us to support through your zoo visits and donations - thank you!
Directed by Benjamin Brooking
Edited by Juliana Machado