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Gunung Leuser Orangutan Heritage Area

Gunung Leuser Orangutan Heritage Area

Information

Description

Gunung Leuser National Park is home to numerous critically endangered species, such as Sumatran Orangutans, Tigers, Elephants, and Rhinos, as well as Siamangs, Thomas's monkey, White-handed Gibbons, Sunbears, Hornbills, Slow Loris and many others. Our program focuses on the villages bordering the National Park and the Simbelin/Padang toad enclaves, which are a vital corridor for elephants. To this end, our NGO, Ibu Bumi Orangutan, has developed a project through the development of ecotourism in the villages, along with the implementation of various educational programs for children, women, and farmers. We have created a team of certified guides alongside the national park's ranger team. Numerous activities are being carried out to promote tourism development based on the respect and protection of nature.

Motivation

Designating this region as a Wildlife Heritage Area is a pivotal step toward securing a sustainable future for its biodiversity, its people, and the local economy. In an era where trust in wildlife tourism is often compromised, this accreditation serves as a signal of integrity. It signals to conscientious travellers that we adhere to the highest standards of ethical interaction and ecological respect.

  • For the wildlife: It ensures strict adherence to ethical principles, prioritising the welfare of the animals and the protection of their habitats over profit.
  • For the community: It catalyses economic resilience. By training locals as specialised guides, we create sustainable livelihoods that depend on keeping wildlife alive and wild.
  • For the NGO: It will help us to attract the ethically-motivated tourists that are a key income source for supporting our conservation and wildlife monitoring work in the area.
  • For the future: Through our educational outreach, where volunteers teach children English through nature conservation games, we are actively supporting and inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders.

Boundary map

Species or habitats

This incredible area is one of the few pristine areas that exist,. It is home to critically endangered endemic species such as the Sumatran Orangutan and the Tiger, as well as the Siamang and White-handed Gibbons. It is also home to Hornbills, slow loris and Amorphophalus Titanium, the largest flower in the world.

Overview

Title: Gunung Leuser Orangutan Heritage Area

Level: Candidate

Name/location: North Sumatra, Indonesia

Name/species/group: Orangutan

Approximate size (sq km): 400

Area features

Sumatran Orangutan

Stability

Decline Misuse of surrounding production lands, expansion of unsustainable palm oil During recent years, the misuse of the forest, with illegal hunting and the felling of trees for wood, created a decrease in the population of this species, among others.

Threats

The lack of food illegal hunting The lack of other individuals to reproduce

Actions taken for protection

Planting native fruit trees that provide them with food. Reforestation of the native forest Education of the local population Sustainable agricultural development

Community importance

This endemic species is essential in the forest due to its importance in the ecosystem, being one of the Apes most at risk.

Wildlife watching guidelines

Monitoring them in the field

White-handed Gibbon 

Stability

Red list from UICN

Threats

Lost of habitat and wildlife trade

Actions taken for protection

  • Agroforestry program
  • Monitoring
  • Ecotourism

Community Importance

  • Ecotourism

Siamang

Stability

Red list UICN

Threats

  • Lost of habitat
  • Wildlife trade

Actions taken for protection

  • Monitoring
  • Rescue center and released program
  • Ecotourism

Community importance

  • Ecotourism

Slow Loris

Stability

Red list from UICN

Threats

  • Wildlife trade
  • Lost of habitat

Actions taken for protection

  • Agroforestry program
  • Volunteers program in rescue center
  • Rescue and release

Community importance

  • Ecotourism

Mouse Deer 

Stability

Risk

Threats

Lost of habitat

Actions taken for protection

  • Agroforestry program

Community Importance

  • Ecotourism

Sunbear 

Stability

Risk

Threats

  • Ilegal wildlife trade

Actions taken for protection

  • Agroforestry program
  • Rescue center
  • Ecotourism

Sumatran Tiger

Stability

Red list UICN

Threats

  • Lost of habitat
  • Ilegal trade

Actions taken for protection

  • Is high protecting from Rangers and foundations
  • Agroforestry program
  • Research
  • Monitoring
  • Patroling
  • Ilegal trade control

Community Importance

For some local etnias tiger is the God of Forest

Criteria

1. Cultural importance of wildlife

Our partners the Police rangers fron national park monitoring tiger tracks agreetment with the local chief who own the community and landscape of our work area

2. Respectful human-wildlife coexistence

3. Responsible wildlife tourism

4. Steering committee

Management plan

Number of people engaged in the Wildlife Heritage Area project: thousands

Management plan file

Executive summary file

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