The Centre for Orangutan Protection was founded in 2007, and works to counter crimes that threaten orangutan and their natural habitats. As part of this mandate, we investigate, document, expose, and if necessary, readily confront any persons or groups who threaten to disrupt the lives of orangutan or local communities living nearby. COP are at the forefront of saving critically endangered wild animals, and strive to create a second chance for orangutan to thrive, whether this be in their natural environments or in captivity. COP operates several rapid-response teams that work to rehabilitate orangutan into Labanan, East Kalimantan. We work wherever orangutan are in need of assistance, whether this be from the cruelties of the illegal animal trade, circus performances, or low-standard zoos.
History of COP
In its early stages, COP was founded as an emergency response to orangutan being slaughtered in Kalimantan, were deforestation is rampant due to the high demand for palm oil plantations. COP then grew to become the fastest and most effective organisation at responding to threats against orangutan and their habitats.
Presently, COP operates two rapid response teams out of Kalimantan, where our rehabilitation centre is located, as well as one team in Yogyakarta, which services Java and Sumatra. As an organisation, COP is relatively small- it is run by only 12 staff.
However, we receive generous assistance from our hundreds of support group members, who we call our ‘Orangufriends’. Our Orangufriends are educated through our COP school- a non-formal school we have pioneered to educate a new generation of wild animal protection activists. The COP school is located in Yogyakarta.
To fight crimes against orangutan and its habitat in order to conserve ecosystems and species
COP’s Founder
From 2005-2006, COP founder Hardi Baktiantoro worked as an assistant to Lone Droscher Nielsen at the Nyarumenteng Orangutan Reintroduction Centre/ BOSF Nyarumenteng. During this year, at least 256 orangutan were saved from concession areas reserved for palm oil plantations. This figure does not include the orangutan that died before reaching the reintroduction centre. Moved by his experiences at Nyarumenteng, Hardi was compelled to make a stand against the palm oil companies committing these atrocities in forest areas. From the onset, he sought to expose their actions, alerting people around the world to what was truly happening on the ground. To do this, Hardi invited his two friends, Wahyuni, a videographer, and Hery, a photographer, to join his cause. During the early stages, COP also received significant assistance from Sri Hastutik, an accountant, and Nurhalik, a teacher. Eventually, COP employed these two figures as founding members. To strengthen the organisation and ensure its continual growth, COP’s founders then invited several other staff to become founding members. COP is the first, and remains the only orangutan conservation organisation to originate from Indonesia.
