Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme

The Power Behind Recovery: Help Orangutans Heal and Return to the Wild

At the end of 2024, a devastating landslide struck the SOCP Orangutan Quarantine and Rehabilitation Center in Sibolangit, North Sumatra. The disaster destroyed our main clinic, infant care facility, and several enclosures, the very heart of our rescue and rehabilitation work. Thankfully, some structures survived, and our team worked tirelessly to keep every orangutan safe.

The SOCP Orangutan Quarantine and Rehabilitation Center in Sibolangit After Landslide

For over 20 years, Sibolangit has been the first safe haven for orangutans rescued from the illegal pet trade and human–wildlife conflict. Since 2001, the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) has rescued more than 460 orangutans and released over 350 back to the wild, helping establish new, viable populations in Aceh and Jambi.

Just weeks after the landslide, an adult male orangutan named Puntung arrived at Sibolangit. Injured and weak, he reflected the ongoing pressures wild orangutans face from forest loss and conflict. Even with limited facilities, our veterinary and keeper teams cared for him with dedication. By June 2025, Puntung was released into Jantho Nature Reserve, free once again.

Puntung in the SOCP Orangutan Quarantine and Rehabilitation Centre in SibolangitPuntung in the Jantho Nature Reserve

Today, 36 orangutans remain at Sibolangit, each with their own chance at a wild future. Beyond rescue, SOCP also runs research stations, forest patrols, and community outreach to ensure orangutans have safe forests to return to.

This Giving Day for Apes, you can be the power behind recovery. Your support will help orangutans like Puntung heal, grow strong, and return to the wild where they belong.