“Orangutans are special because they are so human-like, intelligent and their ‘scheming’ character makes me adore them even more” – Lone Dröscher Nielsen

Based in Central Kalimantan, Nielsen is an expert on the care of orangutans. When asked to describe her daily routine, she said she works around the clock managing the projects, which makes her feel very alive. “Each time I get a call to rescue orangutans, I can’t bear to say no even though now our Nyaru Menteng Rescue Centre is overcrowded,” she adds.

Coordinating successive rescues is not an easy task. According to Nielsen, she continuously faces challenges between locals, the palm oil industry and the Indonesian government – as well as the difficulty in getting sustainable funds.

Nielsen admits that when she first started carrying out rescues of orangutans, she came off as very aggressive and as if at war with the palm oil industries. Still, even though against the whole idea of palm oil business, she requested from palm oil businessmen that they call her rescue centre when they see any orangutans in their vicinity. This not only curbs the unnecessary trade of illegal animals, especially orangutans, but it also ensures that no orangutans are killed or kept as pets by the locals.

With the well-equipped clinic and the close working relationship with veterinarians and paramedics, over 1,100 orangutans have benefited from Nielsen’s rescue centre.

“Most sub-adult and adult wild orangutans can recuperate back from a minor injury without our assistance. And as wild animals, any recovered orangutan is immediately transferred to the higher part of the forest as most lowlands are under threat,” explains Nielsen.

For someone who dedicates her life to these gentle animals, Nielsen’s deepest and only fear is to read on the newspaper one day with headlines of – the last orangutan has died. 

We fear that too Lone!