Orphan Orangutan Dora Joins TOP Adoption Program

TOP's newest ambassador, NZ television personality Jeanette Thomas recently travelled with her impassioned daughter Charlotte, alongside Leif Cocks on a journey to Sumatra where she observed the deforestation first hand by visiting palm oil plantations and the orphan orangutan care centres supported by TOP. During their time in Sumatra they spent time with the very special Dora, and were capitvated by her charm and her journey to rehabilitation and hopefully a future release. 

“The trip to Sumatra with Charlotte was such a wonderful experience and such an honour to travel alongside Leif,” says Thomas. “We've learnt so much more about orangutans being able to see them firsthand and also see the absolute destruction to their habitat caused by palm oil plantations,” she continues. “After returning from Sumatra, I feel more strongly about this cause than I've ever felt about anything. Orangutans are incredibly intelligent and peaceful creatures and they deserve respect and a place on this earth, just as much as you and I.”

“Our family has already adopted two orangutans through The Orangutan Project. We're now adopting one special orphan we met called Dora, too. Being able to see firsthand where my money goes and seeing what's being done to get the orphans wild again is invaluable,” says Thomas.

Dora

Rehabilitation Centre: Bukit Tigapuluh Sumatran orangutan Release Centre
Arrival Date: 2011 at Batu Mbelin Care Centre
Approximate Date of Birth: 2008
Sex: Female
Physical Condition: Healthy

Bio

Dora was confiscated from a Buddhist monastery in North Sumatra in 2011 when she was three years old. She is originally from Kuala Simpang, Aceh. She was taken to the Batu Mbelin Orangutan Quarantine Centre and weighed approximately 8kg. Dora settled in well at the quarantine centre. She was energetic, had a good appetite and was interested in the other orangutans as well as the technicians since she was used to human company. Dora put on weight and her hair became darker during her time at Batu Mbelin.

Dora was transferred to the orangutan reintroduction centre in Bukit Tigapuluh (BTP) in April 2013. She is being trained for release back into the wild. Dora is housed in socialisation cages at BTP. The orangutans are given many feeds and enrichment to undertake during the day to keep them mentally and physically active.

Dora is going very well at her regular forest school training sessions in the BTP forest. She is very active and energetic and searches for forest food. Dora is also friendly and playful with the other orangutans. She watches the other orangutans very closely and learns new forest skills from them. It is hoped that Dora will continue to excel at forest school so she can be released in the future.