About BOS

The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS) is a not-for-profit foundation supported by sister organizations around the world. BOS works under an official agreement with the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry for the conservation of orangutans and their ecosystem by involving and educating the local people.

BOS is presently running the world's largest primate conservation project and employs more than 200 permanent staff. BOS' interests cover biodiversity issues (flora and fauna), forest rehabilitation, forest inventory and monitoring (through its company PT SarVision Indonesia), agroforestry (to improve local peoples' welfare and education), as well as working with orangutans and other protected wildlife.

BOS was formed in 1991 when Dr Willie Smits, a tropical forest ecologist and senior advisor to the Minister of Forestry of Indonesia, found a sick orangutan in the local market. He managed to keep her alive and was then given a second problematic baby, and had to care for the two of them.

The foundation has a board of trustees to oversee operations and is assisted by a scientific advisory board, which comprises orangutan experts and other specialists from Indonesia and around the world.

Since its incorporation BOS has achieved an enviable track record of success. It has purchased thousands of acres of land to become eternal nature reserves owned by BOS, assisted in the confiscation of more than one thousand orangutans with their subsequent reintroduction into the wild, and educated and provided livelihoods for thousands of local people.

In Australia, BOS Australia is a volunteer organisation which has been raising funds since 2001 to support the two main projects of the Foundation, Nyaru Menteng and Samboja Lestari.

In 2009, BOS Australia's income totalled $341,000 with $317,000 distributed to the projects.  As a largely volunteer organisation, BOS Australia is able to ensure a very high percentage of donor dollars get to where they are most needed - in Indonesia.

BOS Australia aims to support the BOS's activities in Borneo through:
» Fundraising
» Raising public awareness
» Education programmes

BOS Australia has DGR status with donations over $2 tax deductible for Australian tax-payers.

ABN: 46 485 375 414

Bank account details:

      Bank name:       Westpac Banking Corporation      

      Account name: Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Aust.

      BSB: 033 112     Account number: 244 334

15 July 2010
Why should we protect the orangutan? It is a frequently asked question when lay-people, including businesspeople, discuss the need to protect orangutans, Asia's only great ape, which is greatly endangered. Read Article »

23 June 2010
If an orangutan blows a raspberry, smacks you on the side of your body or gives you a nip on the arm, don't worry. Read Article »

21 June 2010
Some New Zealand food companies are being slippery about whether they use palm oil, according to a Green Party survey.

6 June 2010
Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Australia and its Indonesian counterpart have secured a 112,000 hectare site in Kalimantan, Indonesia for the release of rehabilitated orangutans.

27 May 2010
Indonesia will introduce a two-year moratorium on deforestation to help tackle climate change, the country's president has said. Read Article »

28 May 2010
United States congressman Earl Blumenauer has called on the Australian Government to legislate to ban illegal timber imports into Australia.

27 May 2010
Cash-strapped Indonesia remains committed to protection of its rainforests as part of the global initiative to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) Plus scheme, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says.

27 May 2010
Indonesia will honor palm oil companies' existing contract despite its pledge to suspend new concessions to clear the nation's natural forests and peat lands for two years, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says.