Orangutan Diary

Deep in the Borneo rainforest, veterinarians and caregivers have a massive and emotional task ahead of them: rescuing and nursing the jungle’s most appealing — and most vulnerable — animals back to health. This nature documentary follows the lives of Bornean Orangutans in the care of Lone Drøscher Nielsen, a member of the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) foundation.

There are approximately 600 orangutans being cared for day and night at the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation Centre. Most have had traumatic lives, clinging to survival as rainforests are burned around them, while others are snatched from the wild to be sold as pets. Every day is a challenge for the team as they care for the orphans and deal with the human crises of life in a rainforest hospital.

Watch this pledge special Wednesday August 22 at 8:00 p.m. on WCVE PBS/WHTJ PBS (check listings for additional air-times).  While watching this special program, call in your pledge of support (1.800.476.8440) or click here and help your local PBS station continue to educate, entertain and inspire.

The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation Centre was founded in 1994, a year after Lone Dröscher Nielsen permanently moved to Borneo. She could see what effect the palm oil plantations were having on the orangutans, so then founded the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Reintroduction Project, now the largest ape rescue project in the world.