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Our achievements 2011-2012
We at BOS Australia, are pleased to share our major achievements for the year ended June 30 2012.
Financial summary
We raised over $280,000 in the year ending 30 June 2012. Our two main sources of funding are donations (both regular donations and appeal donations) and Orangutan adoptions. During the year we introduced a new range of virtual gift certificates to complement our merchandise. They make great presents and with a low cost to the organisation, nearly all the funds from these virtual gifts is passed on to Indonesia.
During the year we send $197,120 to BOS Foundation Indonesia to support various projects, including the release of orangutans into the wild. Another $33,760 was spent directly on other projects including the Sewerage Project and the Keeper Exchange Project.
Sewerage project
In 2011 the concept design and build of a new waste management system was completed with the help of Dr Keith Bolton and Jayson Winmill from Ecoteam along with Nik Hyde. Our volunteer team has been back to review the waste management system that we installed last year in Nyaru Menteng Sanctuary and make plans for further developments. The great news is that the system is successfully converting human and orangutan waste into crystal clear water which is being recycled back into the forest ecosystem. That has dramatically improved the health of the Orangutans at that sanctuary.
Orang-U-Friends program
The Orang-U-Friends school program encourages school children of any age to learn more about the plight of orangutans in the wild.
It engages youngsters by explaining the unique qualities that make orangutans special and talks about the work that BOS Australia and BOS Foundation (BOSF) does to help save orangutans, giving easy and achievable suggestions on how to get involved to raise awareness and money.
The money raised by schools gives them the opportunity to adopt one or more of our orangutans and receive information and updates on their chosen animal. It allows children to feel like that are a part of the program, and they know how the money they have raised is helping Orangutans in Indonesia. There were fourteen adoptions during the last four months of this financial year through the program. It’s this positive energy and enthusiasm of the next generation that is the key to saving this endangered species.
Keeper exchange
Lou Grossfeldt visited Borneo in July 2011 and through negotiations with BOSF and the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, is developing a Keeper work experience program. The concept is for orangutan keepers from Samboja Lestarii to travel to Sydney to work alongside Lou and other key staff at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, helping to develop key enrichment and management strategies. The first Indonesian keepers involved in the program arrived in Australia in October 2012.
Lou’s subsequent visits to Samboja Lestarii have been greeted with much praise from BOSF. They appreciate the assistance with orangutan behaviour enrichment programs.
Other Australian help
In addition to help from us, BOSF also received significant support from BHP-Billiton and the Australian government via AusAID for their MAWAS program.
BHP donated the use of helicopters in East Kalimantan for relocations, along with providing steel for the quarantine cages in Nyaru Menteng.
Through their Kalimantan Forests and Climate Partnership (KFCP), AusAID have engaged BOSF with community development and orangutan protection programs. This a valuable project allowing BOSF to continue their excellent work protecting the Mawas area, which has a large population of orangutans living in the wild.
Tony Gilding
President
BOS Australia
October 2012
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