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.
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 managmentCriteria
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 footprintCriteria
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 studentsCriteria
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 monitoringCriteria
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 conservationCriteria
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 conservationCriteria
4. Steering Committee
volunteers volunteers volunteer ecotourismCriteria
4. Steering Committee
nora arriazu national park rangers letter Director Rangers of TNGLManagement 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
