In Episode 2 of Wild Work Sumatra, Amy introduces us to Mina, an orangutan taken from her mother as a baby in the illegal pet trade before being rescued and released back into the wild in Bukit Lawang, the site of Sumatra’s first orangutan rehabilitation centre. We learn about Amy’s special relationship with the orangutans of Auckland Zoo – including Charlie who she has worked with for over half her life. Amy discusses how intelligent these arboreal primates are and how their natural skills and behaviours have shaped the design of the Zoo’s expansive new South East Asia Jungle Track which opens this Summer. Later in this episode we meet John Purba, a senior ranger who knows every orangutan in the Leuser Ecosystem. John believes in conserving the forest and its wildlife so much that he’s set up a school in his own backyard where he teaches conservation and English, that Auckland Zoo is proud to help fund!
