{{More footnotes|date=August 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2011}} {{Infobox organization | image = The_Orangutan_Project_logo.png | image_size = 200px <!-- Optional: adjust size --> | image_alt = Logo of The Orangutan Project | name = The Orangutan Project | nickname = TOP | formation = 1998 | founder = Leif Cocks | founding_location = Australia | type = Nonprofit | tax_id = <!-- or |vat_id = (for European organizations) --> | registration_id = <!-- for non-profits --> | status = Company | purpose = Wildlife Conservation | headquarters = Perth, Western Australia | location = Perth, Western Australia | coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline,title}} --> | board_of_directors = Leif Cocks, Kylie Bullo & Troy Kenah | key_people = Leif Cocks {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-25 |title=Australia Day Honours: WA man Leif Cocks, founder of The Orangutan Project, awarded Medal of the Order of Australia |url=https://thewest.com.au/news/australia-day/australia-day-honours-wa-man-leif-cocks-founder-of-the-orangutan-project-awarded-medal-of-the-order-of-australia-ng-b881442095z |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=The West Australian |language=en}}</ref> | parent_organization = Wildlife Conservation International | website = {{URL|www.theorangutanproject.org}} }} '''The Orangutan Project''' also known as '''The Australian Orangutan Project''' is a non-profit registered Australian environmental organization<ref>Australian Department of the Environment and Water Resources. [http://www.environment.gov.au/tax/reo/index.html "Tax Deductible Organisations (Register of Environmental Organisations)"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210025946/http://www.environment.gov.au/tax/reo/index.html |date=10 February 2007 }}. Accessed 1 August 2007.</ref> established in 1998 by Leif Cocks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Founder – The Orangutan Project |url=https://www.orangutan.org.au/about-us/leif-cocks/ |website=The Orangutan Project |access-date=2025-06-21}}</ref> The organization focuses on the conservation of orangutans and the preservation and rehabilitation of their forest habitats, primarily in Indonesia. It runs its own projects in partnership with local organizations and supports other organizations working in the field.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.orangutan.org.uk/conservation/conserving-critical-habitat |title=Conserving Critical Habitat |access-date=15 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027124025/http://www.orangutan.org.uk/conservation/conserving-critical-habitat |archive-date=27 October 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is a project of Wildlife Conservation International (WCI), a non-profit registered Australian environmental organization with affiliates and chapters in Canada, USA, EU and New Zealand.
==Funding== The organization receives funding through public donations, community events, membership fees, orphan orangutan 'adoptions', and grants. As of 30 June 2024, providing funding over AUD $5,603,175 <ref>{{cite web |title=Wildlife Conservation International Impact Report 2023‑24 |url=https://www.orangutan.org.au/static/media/uploads/impactreport/top_impactreport202324.pdf |website=Wildlife Conservation International |access-date=2025-06-21}}</ref> (USD $3,667,558) to wildlife conservation. In 2005, WCI received over $62,000 from the Australian Government's Regional Natural Heritage Program (RNHP) to develop and implement orangutan protection units in the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park region in Sumatra and to monitor and deter illegal logging. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/programs/rnhp/approvedgrants-04-05.html |title=Regional Natural Heritage Programme: Projects 2004-2005 |accessdate=2007-08-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829235553/http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/programs/rnhp/approvedgrants-04-05.html |archivedate=29 August 2007}}</ref> In 2006, the organization secured an additional $92,000 from the RNHP to extend the protection efforts to include other species such as the Sumatran elephant and tiger. TOP also received A$207,500 for wildlife surveys in Borneo's forests, including the Ulu Segama reserve, to establish wildlife baseline data and develop a Forest Management Plan focusing on orangutan populations. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/programs/rnhp/approvedgrants06-07.html |title=RNHP Projects for 2006-07 |accessdate=2007-08-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829235607/http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/programs/rnhp/approvedgrants06-07.html |archivedate=29 August 2007}}</ref> Since its inception, The Orangutan Project has contributed over USD 25 million (≈AUD 37 million) to orangutan conservation projects across Borneo and Sumatra.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Impact in 2023‑24 |url=https://www.orangutan.org.au/about-us/our-impact/ |website=The Orangutan Project |access-date=2025-06-21}}</ref>
==Leadership== The Orangutan Project was founded by Leif Cocks, who also serves as the organization's current CEO. Leif has been involved in orangutan conservation for over 30 years and has contributed to various projects related to the protection of orangutans and their habitats. He holds a Master of Science from Curtin University, Western Australia, for research on the welfare of orangutans and in 2020, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his outstanding contributions to orangutan conservation.{{cite web |title=Founder of The Orangutan Project receives major Australian honor |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/founder-of-the-orangutan-project-receives-major-australian-honor-301008886.html |publisher=PR Newswire |date=2020-02-21}} . Leif has published several papers in peer review journals and books on the subject, including "Orangutans and their Battle for Survival"<ref>{{cite web |title=Orangutan Expert Leif Cocks Discusses His Book 'Finding Our Humanity' At Library |url=https://www.27east.com/arts/aleifcocks0704-1326929/ |website=27 East |date=27 June 2019}}</ref> and an autobiography titled "Orangutans, My Cousins, My Friends, and 'Finding Our Humanity'".<ref>{{cite web |title=What humans can learn from orangutans |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-30/what-humans-can-learn-from-orangutans/7970808 |website=ABC News |language=en-AU |date=29 October 2016}}</ref><ref>Perth Zoo, Western Australia. [http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/Conservation---Research/Projects-in-the-Wild/Sumatran-Orang-utan-Pilot-Project/News-from-Bukit-Tigapuluh/ "News from Bukit Tigapuluh"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222359/http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/Conservation---Research/Projects-in-the-Wild/Sumatran-Orang-utan-Pilot-Project/News-from-Bukit-Tigapuluh/ |date=27 September 2007 }}. Accessed 1 August 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Podcast |first1=The Insider Mom |title=Saving A Species From Extinction & Protecting The Rainforest – The Insider Mom Podcast – Podcast |url=https://podtail.com/de/podcast/the-insider-mom-podcast/saving-a-species-from-extinction-protecting-the-ra/ |website=Podtail |language=de |date=19 March 2021}}</ref>
==Organizational structure== The Orangutan Project operates as a conservation organization supporting projects across Indonesia and Malaysia.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sánchez |first1=Diego |title=Saving Borneo's orangutans from the air |url=https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2023-08-16/saving-borneos-orangutans-from-the-air.html |website=EL PAÍS English |language=en-us |date=16 August 2023}}</ref> It addresses issues facing fragmented orangutan populations, including rescue, rehabilitation, and release programs, as well as forest habitat protection, regeneration, education, research, and local community partnerships. In 2017, the organization transitioned structurally, leading to the establishment of Wildlife Conservation International Limited, which oversees The Orangutan Project and its related projects, including the International Elephant Project, Forests for People and the International Tiger Project.<ref>{{cite web |title="The only way we can save the species is in the wild": an interview with Leif Cocks |url=https://www.loveexploring.com/news/144411/the-only-way-we-can-save-the-species-is-in-the-wild-an-interview-with-le |website=loveexploring.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Partnerships== The Orangutan Project collaborates with several regional alliances and organizations focused on orangutan conservation, such as the Sumatran Rescue Alliance and the Borneo Orangutan Rescue Alliance. Its partners include the Centre for Orangutan Protection, Borneo Nature Foundation, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Orangutan Foundation UK, Orangutan Information Centre, and Orang Utan Republik Foundation.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Project Working to Provide a Lifeline For Trafficked Orangutans |url=https://earth.org/the-orangutan-project/ |website=Earth.Org |language=en |date=26 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Orangutan Project Launches New Sumatran Rescue Alliance To Rehabilitate Trafficked Orangutans & Fight Illegal Wildlife Trade |url=https://worldanimalnews.com/breaking-the-orangutan-project-launches-new-sumatran-rescue-alliance-to-rescue-rehabilitate-trafficked-orangutans-to-fight-illegal-trade/ |website=World Animal News |date=14 May 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * Australian Department of the Environment and Water Resources. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070829235553/http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/programs/rnhp/approvedgrants-04-05.html "RNHP Projects for 2004–05"]. Accessed 1 August 2007. * Australian Department of the Environment and Water Resources. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070829235607/http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/programs/rnhp/approvedgrants06-07.html "RNHP Projects for 2006–07"]. Accessed 1 August 2007. *Cocks, L (2003) ''Orangutans and their Battle for Survival''. University of Western Australia Press. {{ISBN|1-876268-80-8}}. *Embassy of Indonesia, Canberra, Australia. [http://indonesia.embassy.gov.au/jakt/MR06_044.html "Media release: Australian born orang-utan to swing back into Indonesian national park"]. Accessed 1 August 2007
==External links== *[https://www.theorangutanproject.org The Orangutan Project]
Category:Nature conservation organisations based in Australia Category:1998 establishments in Australia Category:Orangutan conservation