“Creating
a society for young orphaned
Orangutans in the wild is daunting, but
when they have been raised by human
surrogate mothers, how will these
fascinating creatures survive without
that special care? Orangutan Island
follows the day-to-day life of these
magnificent primates as they learn to
adapt to living together in the jungle...”
HUNDREDS OF ORPHANED BABY ORANGUTANS face an uncertain future in Indonesia as
Borneo's rainforests — the Orangutans' natural home
— are being destroyed by logging, mining, forest fires and hunting.
The captivating yet mysterious red-haired 'people of the forest'
were being pushed towards extinction until help came from the very race that
threatened their survival: Man.
Some of these orphans have had very tragic early lives, torn from their mother's
arms by poachers and abandoned to their fate or sold as pets. But thanks to
the pioneering work of Lone Droscher-Neilsen and her specially-trained team
at The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS), a groundbreaking new project
has given new hope to these sometimes traumatised and unsettled orphans.
Lone has worked with Orangutans for over fifteen years and she heads the team
that rescues and cares for the babies. It is the largest rescue primate project
in the world and new orphans arrive every day, haunted by the traumatic events
they have witnessed.
The Nyara Menteng Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre is relocating thirty-five
young Orangutans — known as Forest School Group 103 — to a protected
100-acre island where they can roam freely while learning how to survive in
their natural habitat.
Exploring the society of our primate cousins in a way never seen before, Demand
DVD is delighted to announce the release of Animal Planet's Orangutan Island,
which gives an amazing, in-depth look at this fascinating, solitary, mysterious
species that shares 97 per cent of our DNA.
This is a documentary that has its fair share of dramas and there are plenty
of characters among the lively, endearing bunch of furry friends — all
with their own individual personalities — that make up Forest School Group
103, including the fearless Daisy, femme fatale Jasmine, moody Chen Chen, mischievous
Saturnus and Cha Cha, who is a social butterfly with long golden hair who always
wants to play centre stage.
Then there is the independent Oyoy, the nervous Nadi who was illegally sold
as a pet and kept in a small outside cage and a trio of tearaways — the
unruly Togar, Mila and Mercury, who are the youngest males in the island and
are known as The Bandit Boys.
The orphans have been taught how to forage for food and build weatherproof sleeping
nests high in the trees — things they would have been taught by their mothers.
The unique classes run by the Centre are specifically aimed at preparing the
charges for life in the wild. Those that cannot look after themselves will come
back to the centre forever.
The lush tropical jungle island is home to a variety of wildlife and the orphans
will be the first Orangutans ever to set foot there and their progress will
be closely monitored. It is hoped that they can overcome their traumatic past
and learn to live free from the helping hands of the humans upon whom they have
become reliant.
But even in Paradise there are dangers and the youngsters experience a kidnapping,
a thunderstorm during which the island is flooded, a threat from a crocodile
and a close encounter with a snake. Orangutans cannot swim so they should be
naturally wary of water. There is also the potential for fights to break out
between males over food and females.
Orangutan Island is a compulsive, funny, heart-breaking, tragic but ultimately
heart-warming and fascinating documentary about our close cousins that explores
the orphaned Orangutans' behaviour and the dramas they have to face as they
try to cope with life in the wild.
Will they be able to make a home on this island sanctuary? Could this be their
last chance ever to live in the wild? Witness the lives of these solitary yet
sociable creatures on DVD as they form their own society on Orangutan Island.
While testing their skills — and each other's patience — these 35
rowdy young Orangutans wreak jungle havoc!
Orangutan Island is narrated by Rodd Houston; Photography is by Alain
Compost and Rory McGuinness; the haunting music is by Plan 9 Music and the Series
Producer is Judith Curran.
This groundbreaking series attracted a loyal following among viewers of Animal
Planet in the UK, with audiences tuning in weekly to witness the lives, adventures
and mishaps of this engaging new ape society.
• Orangutan Island makes its UK DVD
debut on 23 February (2009), courtesy of Demand DVD. RRP: £29.99 | Running Time:
4 DVD set — 240 mins
"Orangutan Island is a compulsive, funny, heart-breaking, tragic but
ultimately heart-warming and fascinating documentary about our close cousins
that explores the orphaned Orangutans' behaviour and the dramas they have to
face as they try to cope with life in the wild" — Maggie Woods, MotorBar
“Creating
a society for young orphaned