SPOTLIGHT ON: REBECCA PARSONS
Becky is BOS Australia’s Enrichment Volunteer Coordinator. We caught up with her before she heads back to Borneo for the upcoming season.
How did you get involved with BOS and orangutan conservation?
I’ve always been deeply passionate about conservation, but it all began with my geography teacher. I was completely in awe of his classes, learning about the incredible rainforests, and I couldn’t wait to see them for myself. I first volunteered in the Belizean rainforest, and my love for the jungle later led me to Central Borneo. There, an orangutan grabbed my ankle, taking my breath away, and in that moment, I felt an instant and deep connection with them. The global pandemic gave me the push to finally leave my corporate job and follow my heart into conservation. I’ve now been volunteering with BOS Australia for 3 years, and last year, I took on the position of Enrichment Volunteer Coordinator.
Can you share a personal highlight from your first season in Borneo?
My highlight was meeting one of our unreleasable orangutans, Jeje. He is about 14 years old and was sadly kept illegally as a pet before being rescued by the BOS Foundation. Due to his condition—Orangutan Respiratory Disease Syndrome—he cannot be released back into the wild. Every day when the volunteers arrived to deliver enrichment, Jeje would swing down from the top of his enclosure to greet us. He was always very shy and never made eye contact, but by the end of my five-month stay, he felt comfortable enough to look at me. That experience was truly magical.
Hands-on work and a lot of fun—Becky encourages anyone to join her in enriching the lives of our orangutans and sunbears.
What makes the Enrichment Volunteer Program so special for participants?
There are only a few places on this planet where you can see orangutans every day and work so closely with them. Volunteers get to experience how each individual has their distinct personality – from cheeky Keke with her naughty streak to Bujang, with his striking “blonde” coat, reigning over his sanctuary island. On top of that, Samboja Lodge offers a unique volunteer accommodation experience. It features amazing rooms with hot water, lovely staff, delicious food, and is surrounded by the lushest rainforest. Nothing beats watching the sunrise from its rooftop while macaques play in the trees below.
What does a typical day for a volunteer look like?
Every day is different—and nothing ever quite goes to plan in Indonesia! After breakfast, the day might start by making enrichment for the sun bears and watching them work out how to get to the tasty hidden treats. Depending on the sanctuary’s needs, volunteers may spend a few hours painting a cage or planting trees. We break for a yummy Indonesian lunch, followed by the best mango you’ll ever taste. In the afternoon, volunteers usually collect browse (branches and leaves) to give to our unreleasable orangutans to make their nests. And then it’s time to make more enrichment for the orangutans, before we head back to the lodge.
What impact did the volunteers have last season?
In addition to creating numerous daily enrichment items for the orangutans and sun bears, our volunteers painted the sun bears’ cage attached to their training enclosure, built three wooden platforms on the orangutan sanctuary islands, and planted 261 trees. None of this would have been possible without them, and I am deeply grateful for all their hard work and dedication.
If I were hesitant to go, what would you say to convince me to join?
I’ve had volunteers from all walks of life and of all ages, so don’t let the unknown hold you back. Those who have stepped the furthest out of their comfort zone often gain the most from their time in Borneo. You won’t regret it!
