For International Women’s Day, we spoke to Yuyun, the Communications Officer with our Bornean Orangutan Rescue Alliance partner, the Centre for Orangutan Protection. In this role, Yuyun maintains the website and social media and takes many of the photos and videos we share on social media. She’s also responsible for sourcing information, data and updates for the reports that feed into the stories we share. Thanks so much Yuyun for your amazing skills and for sharing stories and photos of the many beautiful orangutans the team cares for.
One of the things Yuyun enjoys most about her job is that she can tell everyone how unique orangutans are, how they’re as individual as us humans. As much as she loves her job, there are some big challenges. One of the biggest challenges she faces is that she sometimes feels pulled in two different directions.
What are the biggest challenges you face?
“Because the rehabilitation and the other [aspects of] COP’s work is in a remote area, I must be patient to get the documentation,” she says. “Sometimes the documentation is not what I want, and I need to go to the location. I love being in the field, but I have a family, a husband and three kids. Sometimes they call me and ask when I’ll be back.”
It’s also a challenge to convey the information she gets from the field, to make sure it’s accurate. Because facts and accuracy matter to Yuyun - and to all of us - she sometimes checks three or more times to make sure she’s communicating accurately.
What do you love about your job?
“Since childhood, I liked going into nature. Even just for lunch; we would bring lunch and eat it by the river,” she says. “My first time climbing a mountain in North Sumatra (when I’m in high school) with my dad, it was so much fun and made me want to keep climbing the mountain.
“I also tried outdoor activities such as rafting, climbing and caving. Caving taught me a great philosophy: ‘Take nothing but a picture, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.’ When we explore the cave, even just entering an area is very damaging. So we must be very careful. Caving has rules that must be obeyed. It’s just like nature. We should respect other life.”
Other things Yunyun has learned from caving include how to make sure everyone is being looked after. “When doing the caving, we have to be at least three people. If something happens to one of us, one of the others can accompany the person, while the other can go seek help. That’s why our teams (like APE Crusader) are always three people when they go to the field.”
What are some of the challenges you face as a woman working in conservation?
“I was lucky to be a part of the nature lovers organisation on campus. I learned to organise and practise physical and mental strength. Working in conservation requires good stamina. You also have to be with people who agree with you, who provide extra energy and intelligence. Because when you have a family, you have to balance everything.”
Yuyun has helpful advice for other young women who are interested in a career in conservation. “If you work, don’t just dip your finger. Make this your career. Don’t think about others who have done it, but do what you think you should do. I’m sure people will see our abilities not because of our gender. But our gender as women must be able to make us more creative.”
What are your hopes for the future?
“I hope everyone takes their part and aligns their goals for the better. Don’t waste your abilities. I really hope orangutans will exist.”
In the year 2000 while at the entrance to a cave, Yuyun saw an orangutan with her son, at the top of a tree in the Sumatran forest. The orangutans observed Yuyun and her friends, who had just arrived at the cave entrance. They kept their distance and looked back at the orangutans.
“Yes, I really hope that in the future, we can still experience such a scene, with a sense of anxiety and admiration when we meet wild orangutans and other wildlife. I hope we can keep our distance and respect each other’s existence.”
So do we, Yuyun, and we think we’ll get there faster with more people like you, speaking up for orangutans and telling their stories.