An overview of the work of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme, some of the threats to wild orangutan populations, and the exciting new Orangutan Haven being developed in North Sumatra – a unique resource for education, conservation, and recreation.
Dr.Ian Singleton is a former Zookeeper who has specialized in orangutans since 1989 when he joined Jersey Zoo, founded by author Gerald Durrell. In 2001 he was awarded a PhD on “Orangutan ranging behavior and social organization” with the University of Kent, UK. In 2001 he established the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) for the Swiss PanEco Foundation. The SOCP tackles all aspects of orangutan conservation in Sumatra. In 2017 Ian and colleagues described a new species of orangutan, the Tapanuli Orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis). In 2020 he was awarded an OBE by HM the Queen in recognition of his work.
