Orangutan sanctuary volunteering in Borneo
Description of Orangutan sanctuary volunteering in Borneo
Nestled in the verdant jungles of Borneo, the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary offers a memorable experience for volunteers passionate about orangutan conservation. This sanctuary, run by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, houses the world's largest population of rescued orangutans and runs a highly successful rehabilitation and release program. For many orangutans, Nyaru Menteng is a second chance, and volunteers help play a role in their journey back to the wild or, for those who cannot be released, a life of comfort and safety within the sanctuary.
As a volunteer on this project, you'll contribute directly to orangutan welfare by crafting engaging enrichment items that promote essential natural behaviours like foraging and nest-building. These activities are crucial in preserving the orangutans' innate instincts, helping them thrive whether destined for release or lifelong sanctuary care. Beyond orangutan care, volunteers participate in other conservation tasks such as reforestation, construction activities, and observing orangutans on the pre-release islands. Volunteers can also immerse themselves in Borneo's vibrant culture, with opportunities to explore a traditional night market, enjoy a scenic hilltop hike, and visit a sustainable permaculture farm. This cultural component allows volunteers to connect deeply with the environment and the local community, gaining insight into the unique challenges and beauty of life in the rainforest.
Home to the heart-warming TV show Orangutan Jungle School, an unforgettable experience for volunteers comes when watching the baby orangutans return from a day at forest school to play in their playground - one you may have helped work on during the week!
Volunteering at Nyaru Menteng is more than just an opportunity to aid orangutans; it's an unforgettable experience of jungle life, conservation, and cultural exploration, allowing volunteers to make a real difference in orangutan conservation while connecting with the heart of Borneo.
Activities include:
- Preparing lots of enrichment for orangutans
- Orangutan observation, including two boat trips around the orangutan islands
- Observing baby orangutans at their playground post-forest school
- Constructing and maintaining observation and feeding platforms or play frames
- Assisting with reforestation tasks
- Touring the veterinary clinic with renowned Dr. Arga (as seen on the hit TV show Orangutan Jungle School)
- Visiting a traditional night market
- Taking a scenic hilltop trek among Dayak shrines
- Exploring a sustainable farm & live music café
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Reviews
4 Reviews of Orangutan sanctuary volunteering in Borneo
Reviewed on 11 Jul 2025 by Lisa Lam
A must for Orangutans lovers! The rich and varied activities, whether it’s direct interactions with the Orangutans or indirect experience such as a visit to the vet clinic, greatly enhanced my understanding of the Orangutans. Read full reviewReviewed on 19 Jul 2023 by Song Yang
Incredible time with good people who also want to do better. Read full reviewReviewed on 28 Apr 2023 by Jennifer Chatwin
10 out of 10. I would do this trip again in a heartbeat. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
Nyaru Menteng is one of Indonesia’s most prestigious and renowned orangutan rehabilitation and rescue centres, and one of the main focal points of BOS (‘The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation’), who have a mission of:1. Accelerating the release of Bornean orangutans from ex-situ to in-situ locations
2. Encouraging the protection of Bornean orangutans and their habitat
3. Increasing the empowerment of local communities surrounding the orangutan’s habitat
4. Supporting research and education activities for the conservation of Bornean orangutans and their habitat
5. Promoting the participation of and partnership with all land stakeholders
6. Strengthening institutional capacity for education programmes
At the centre, the emphasis is on rehabilitation of orangutans – many of whom were rescued from atrocious situations. The overriding goal of this is to reintroduce orangutans back to secure natural habitats in order to establish new viable long-term populations to bolster the conservation of the species in the wild.
Each orangutan is placed through a rigorous quarantine process before the rehabilitation process and subsequent release can begin. This is very important, as many rescued orangutans have been exposed to human diseases which they would not normally encounter in the wild.
Sadly, many of the orangutans resident here cannot ever be released back into the wild because of injury or illness. For these orangutans, the sanctuary provides them with a safe haven where they can live out the rest of their lives – away from the threat of deforestation and human destruction.
People
The local people are gaining both financially and environmentally from this sanctuary along with the presence and support of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, the charity whom the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary was formed in conjunction with. They receive income from the sale of the land which the sanctuary bought to build its foundation on, from salaries working in the centre either as orangutan carers, cooking and cleaning staff, volunteer coordinators, and even as drivers. Also, volunteers visit two markets where they can purchase goods from the locals so this also provides extra income to these people too.What's more, the presence of the Bornean Orangutan Survival Foundation has also promoted forms of farming that do not involve burning and destroying forests, switching to agriculture combining rattan, sugar palms, pineapples, papayas, beans, and corn along with other fruits and vegetables. This also helps the community to understand the importance of sustainable agriculture and how to execute sustainable agricultural practices.
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