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Gunung Leuser Orangutan Heritage Area
North Sumatra, Indonesia

Gunung Leuser Orangutan Heritage Area

Information

Home to a stunning array of wildlife such as Gibbons, Orangutans, Tigers, Sunbears, Hornbills and Slow lorys.

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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.


  1. For the Wildlife: It ensures strict adherence to ethical principles, prioritising the welfare of the animals and the protection of their habitats over profit.


  1. 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

  1. 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.


  1. 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.

Area Features

Sumatran Orangutan - specie

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 - habitat

Stability

Red list from UICN

Threats

Lost of habitat and wildlife trade

Actions taken for protection

Agroforestry program

Monitoring

Ecotourism

Community Importance

Ecotourism

Wildlife Watching Guidelines


Siamang - habitat

Stability

Red list UICN

Threats

Lost of habitat

Wildlife trade

Actions taken for protection

Monitoring

Rescue center and released program

Ecotourism

Community Importance

Ecotourism

Wildlife Watching Guidelines


Slow Loris - habitat

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

Wildlife Watching Guidelines


Mouse Deer - habitat

Stability

Risk

Threats

Lost of habitat

Actions taken for protection

Agroforestry program

Community Importance

Ecotourism

Wildlife Watching Guidelines


Sunbear - habitat

Stability

Risk

Threats

Ilegal wildlife trade

Actions taken for protection

Agroforestry program

Rescue center

Ecotourism

Community Importance


Wildlife Watching Guidelines


Sumatran Tiger - habitat

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

Wildlife Watching Guidelines


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

      Criteria

      1. Cultural Importance Of Wildlife

      The Karo people, a subgroup of the Batak ethnic group making traditional medicine Ecological Myths: The Karo people have numerous natural myths Local Involvement: Our project focuses on the villages of Sapo Padang, Batu Jongjong, Ujung Bandar, Ecotourism is a key strategy for developing remote areas world tiger day celebration journal tiger conflict program Elephant conflict managment

      Criteria

      2. Respectful Human-Wildlife Coexistence

      woman making brooms fruit harvest environmental education University campsite research for students planting trees program from the last few years with community ethical tourisme Agroforestry recollecting trash map of wildlife monitoring tiger footprint

      Criteria

      2. Respectful Human-Wildlife Coexistence

      social business income Gunung Leuser national park event for the best teacher University campsite USU MOU Agrement with village chief program from the last few years with community camera trap july 2025 Agroforestry recollecting trash wildlife data USU students

      Criteria

      3. Responsible Wildlife Tourism

      tiger day childrens education sustainable trekking karst forest trip certificate guides community teach tourist MOU for research and ecotourism development together with university Rangers team gunung leuser eco tourism eco tourism University publication MOU with the village chief USU University monitoring USU University monitoring

      Criteria

      3. Responsible Wildlife Tourism

      Our partners teach community about wildlife trade tourtle rescue from local people sustainable trekking karst forest trip https://sumatratrekking.com/itineraries Bird waching MOU for research and ecotourism development together with university Rangers team gunung leuser eco tourism eco tourism University publication MOU with the village chief journal Ecotourism protect tiger conservation

      Criteria

      3. Responsible Wildlife Tourism

      Our partners teach community about wildlife trade tourtle rescue from local people sustainable trekking karst forest trip https://sumatratrekking.com/itineraries Bird waching MOU for research and ecotourism development together with university Rangers team gunung leuser eco tourism eco tourism University publication MOU with the village chief journal tiger conservation

      Criteria

      4. Steering Committee

      volunteers volunteers volunteer ecotourism

      Criteria

      4. Steering Committee

      nora arriazu national park rangers letter Director Rangers of TNGL

      Management Plan

      Number of people engaged in the Wildlife Heritage Area project thousends

      Management Plan File

      Executive Summary File

      Overview

      Title
      Gunung Leuser Orangutan Heritage Area
      Level
      Candidate
      Name Location
      North Sumatra, Indonesia
      Name Species Group
      Orangutan
      Approximate size (sq km)
      400

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