Photo credit: OFI Staff

These palm trees line the edges of many rivers in Tanjung Puting National Park. Trees from that genus are dioecious, meaning female and male flowers grow on different plants. Screwpines are found on tropical and subtropical coastlines of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. In the background, we can see orangutan Enon looking back at us as she is foraging for food. Enon was brought to the OFI Care Center as an infant and after learning the skills she needed with the help of her caregivers, was released back into the forest. 

Due to habitat loss, Agile Gibbons are classified as 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List. They are found in the southwestern part of Borneo and mostly eat fruits but also leaves and insects. These gibbons form lasting pair bonds, and can produce 5 to 6 offsprings in their lifetimes. They are rare visitors at our feeding platforms but always welcome. This one is seen taking his share of bananas before disappearing into the forest. It should be emphasized that the endemic Bornean Gibbon (Hylobates mulleri) is not found in this part of Borneo but rather to the north and east. Hylobates agilis is the gibbon found in the southwestern part of the island where Tanjung Puting Park is located. 

Photo credit: Evgenia Dubman

On Sunday the 7th of February, 2016 a promotion day was hosted by the Tanjung Puting National Park at Kumai, in the province of Kalimantan Tengah (Central Indonesian Borneo).The aim of the day was to promote the National Park as a tourist destination for local people and to highlight the Park's unique biodiversity. Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) and other non-profit organizations working to protect forests and endangered species in the National Park were invited to set up information booths.

Outreach with local communities is an important part of OFI's work on the ground in Indonesia. OFI's capable, friendly Pak Ario ran a table at the event to supply local teachers and school children with information about OFI's field programs. In addition, copies of the OFI-produced Indonesian language newsletter 'Pesan Dari Alam' (Message from Nature) were handed out. This educational newsletter is produced in Indonesia, and features articles about orangutans, the forest, and the work of OFI. The youth attending the event were excited to receive copies of the newsletter and had numerous questions to ask about orangutans. Outreach events are key to inspiring the next generation of conservationists and stewards of nature in Kalimantan. They need to know about what is happening in their own "backyard" of Tanjung Puting National Park.