3 women among 6 finalists for prestigious Indianapolis Prize

The Indianapolis Prize has named six distinguished conservationists as DeHaan Finalists for the 2025 award. The biennial award recognizes animal conservationists who have achieved major victories in saving an animal species or group of species. The DeHaan Finalists will each receive an award of $50,000, or about Rs43 lakh, to continue their efforts. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Indianapolis Prize is the world’s leading award for animal conservation, honouring individuals who are at the...

Conservationist says India not returning seized orangutans

In a revelation that is bound to worry wildlife activists and conservationists in India, at least four orangutans were seized by various forest departments in the country in recent months, according to well-known international wildlife conservationist Leif Cocks, whose organization works to rescue and rehabilitate the great apes in Indonesia. What’s worse, some of these orangutans have not been returned to their home as mandated by India’s own Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and international...

Landslides damage Sumatra’s only orangutan rehab centre

The Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme’s quarantine and rehabilitation centre in Indonesia is facing a crisis after landslides, triggered by heavy rain, struck at 1 am on November 27, damaging critical infrastructure. In operation since 2001, the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme runs the only quarantine and care facility for the great apes on Sumatra, the world’s sixth largest island and a part of Indonesia. Its quarantine centre in North Sumatra rehabilitates orangutans confiscated from illegal captivity....

Only a decade to save orangutans, warns conservationist Leif Cocks

Orangutans, often referred to as ‘the noble ape’, embody a wisdom and grace that captivates the human imagination. But what exactly does this moniker entail, and what lessons can we glean from our wise cousins? Leif Cocks, founder of The Orangutan Project and conservationist with over three decades of experience working with the great apes, is set to embark on a transformative tour across the USA. During the tour, he will delve into the depths...

Would you help build a ‘baby house’ for orphaned orangutan infants in Indonesia?

The Orangutan Project, a conservation organization established in 1998 to protect the critically endangered primate species, has issued an urgent appeal to help build a “baby house” for an influx of orphaned orangutans in need of immediate care. Over the past six months, The Orangutan Project has experienced a surge in the number of orphaned orangutans rescued from deforested habitats, illegal wildlife trade, and other threats, the organization said in a press statement. These vulnerable...

Age of Union Alliance releases first Impact Report on Earth Day

Age of Union Alliance, a non-profit environmental organization led by Emmy Award-winning executive producer, global environmentalist, and Lightspeed Commerce Inc. Chief Executive Officer Dax Dasilva, has published the first Age of Union Impact Report on Earth Day, showcasing the transformative impact of their efforts since Age of Union was founded in 2021. The report focuses on results achieved in 2023. Age of Union has invested in 10 projects globally, all focusing on boots-on-the-ground conservation and...

Florida park welcomes newborn Bornean orangutan baby

An endangered Bornean orangutan has been born at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida, USA, marking a milestone in orangutan conservation efforts among accredited zoological facilities that are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. Delivered successfully by Caesarean section on Saturday to the park’s resident Bornean orangutan, Luna, the newborn weighed in at 3 lb 4 oz (about 567 gm). The delivery was led by a team of medical and...