From Patrols to Protection: Saving Indonesia’s Forest Giants
by Leigh Foster
“Our challenge is in protecting the forest from people who intend to harm nature and everything in it. Preserving nature should always be our main priority.”
– Ranger Manto, Indonesia
At this time of year, I often find myself looking back at the moments that brought real joy into my life. For me, some of those meaningful memories have come from travelling to wild places and encountering the animals that call them home. Two of those moments happened in Borneo. I can still see the wild mother orangutan and her baby feeding on durian and paying absolutely no attention to me, in complete awe, below them! It’s a sight that I’ll carry with me forever. And I still remember the first time I heard a gibbon’s morning song. I felt so grateful to be in their space. It was more than 15 years ago, yet the memory feels as if it happened yesterday.
📷Leigh Foster
Rangers in Indonesian Borneo feel this same sense of wonder. The brightest moments in their work come from seeing wildlife flourish in the forests they protect. And at a time of year when many of us are thinking about how we can help others, it’s powerful to remember that equipping rangers with simple items can make a real difference in safeguarding these magnificent animals.
Indonesia is home to around 10% of the world’s tropical forests and some of the most diverse wildlife in the world. It provides essential natural resources for millions of people. Tragically, around 90% of Indonesia has been deforested, putting tremendous strain on wildlife and its habitat.
Ranger Kadi understands the importance of his work, stating that “forests are the lungs of the Earth.” His favourite part of being a ranger is seeing orangutans. He knows them by name and has a particular fondness for Maurice, who resides in the Dulan forest of Borneo. Maurice shares the forest with endangered gibbons, langurs, sun bears, tigers, and clouded leopards. Sadly, orangutans and gibbons are gravely threatened by habitat loss driven by the palm oil and coal industries, hunting, and the illegal pet trade.
📷Kalaweit
Gibbons are truly extraordinary. As members of the great ape family, they mate for life and stay with their parents until they’re around seven years old. Their morning song is incredible to listen to, but it serves a very practical purpose; it signals to other gibbons to keep away from their family’s territory. Tragically, this beautiful song also makes them vulnerable, as hunters can use it to locate them. It’s heartbreaking to think that at any given time, around 6,000 gibbons are confined to cages as pets, with many more exploited for traditional medicine.
Recently, the Thin Green Line team received a call for help from rangers in Borneo. Their small team of 20 rangers was in desperate need of basic supplies to carry out daily patrols across more than 2,000 hectares of forest. In such challenging terrain, these patrols often require horses, boats, and even planes to reach remote areas. Despite the difficulties, their dedication has made a remarkable difference: there has been no illegal logging or hunting of wildlife in these protected areas thanks to their tireless work.
With the help of our generous supporters, Thin Green Line were able to respond to this call for help, providing funding for fuel for their boats, saddles and shampoo for their horses, shoes, uniforms, torches, machetes, GPS devices, water bottles, camera traps, and food for both rangers and their trusty steeds.
📷Kalaweit
Support like this is about far more than providing essential equipment. It sends a powerful message that rangers’ work is valued and respected. Because of this support, rangers in Borneo can continue protecting iconic species such as orangutans and gibbons, ensuring they survive for generations to come.
Donate to our Christmas Appeal and help equip rangers around the world with the tools they need to protect wildlife on the frontlines of conservation.
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