Frontline Orangutan Rescue Borneo

FRONTLINE ORANGUTAN RESCUE EXPEDITION

Borneo, Indonesia

November 15th - 24th, 2026

$7,400 USD

THIS STARTED WITH A PHONE CALL.

BOSF didn’t ask us to bring tourists.

They asked whether Global Protagonists could help assemble a small frontline delegation of veterinarians, specialists, and highly capable people to assist across a series of orangutan welfare and veterinary priorities inside their programs in Borneo.

So that’s what we’re doing.

Led by wildlife veterinarian and conservationist Dr Chloe Buiting, this will be the first time Global Protagonists has taken a team into Borneo – and the first time Chloe herself has led a delegation like this into the heart of orangutan rehabilitation work.

In November 2026, a very small team of Global Protagonists will enter both Samboja Lestari and Nyaru Menteng – two of the most important orangutan rehabilitation programs on Earth – to work alongside BOSF veterinary teams inside active conservation operations.

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$7,400 USD

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HIGHLIGHTS

THIS IS NOT A SANCTUARY TOUR.

Built directly with BOSF veterinarians and rehabilitation teams, this mission places a very small delegation inside active orangutan conservation operations in Borneo.

It is hands-on, operational, frontline and intentionally small.

Delegates may find themselves:

assisting during active orangutan welfare procedures, surgeries, and rehabilitation interventions
travelling by boat into restricted orangutan island systems alongside BOSF veterinary and rehabilitation teams
entering active quarantine and rehabilitation zones normally closed to outside visitors
preparing and delivering enrichment to rescued orangutans and sun bears inside frontline welfare programs
helping manage complex welfare cases involving mobility issues, behavioural rehabilitation, nutrition, and post-surgical recovery
preparing browse, feeds, medications, equipment, and rehabilitation materials used daily across the programs
participating in veterinary discussions, welfare rounds, and real-time conservation decision making
working shoulder-to-shoulder with the teams managing one of the largest great ape rehabilitation efforts on Earth
adapting in real time to the unpredictability, urgency, and operational chaos of frontline conservation in the Bornean rainforest

Some days may feel like wildlife medicine.

Other days may feel like controlled chaos in the jungle.

That’s exactly what this is.

WHAT YOU'LL BE PART OF

TWO SITES. ONE FRONTLINE DELEGATION.

This mission moves across both of BOSF’s major orangutan rehabilitation programs in Borneo – Samboja Lestari in East Kalimantan, and Nyaru Menteng in Central Kalimantan. Two entirely different worlds. One shared mission: trying to rehabilitate and protect some of the most endangered great apes on Earth.

SAMBOJA LESTARI

East Kalimantan

Orangutan islands. Sun bears. Jungle veterinary work. Regenerating rainforest. Long conversations with BOSF teams over dinner after days inside active welfare operations.

NYARU MENTENG

Central Kalimantan

One of the largest and most significant orangutan rehabilitation projects in the world.

This is where the scale hits you. Hundreds of rescued orangutans, and entire systems built around trying to undo what humans have done to them.

THE TYPE OF ACCESS MOST PEOPLE NEVER SEE.

This isn’t conservation viewed from behind a fence. You’ll step into places very few outsiders are ever invited:

rehabilitation zones
veterinary discussions
quarantine systems
welfare planning meetings
behind-the-scenes orangutan care
active enrichment operations
restricted rehabilitation facilities

You’ll meet the people carrying this work on their backs every single day. And you’ll understand very quickly why orangutan conservation is far more complicated, emotional, expensive, and morally confronting than most people realise.

TEAM LEADERS

This mission is led by an experienced international team of veterinarians and conservation practitioners who work directly on the frontlines of wildlife protection. Together, they bring expertise in wildlife medicine, field operations, conservation strategy, and capacity building – ensuring participants are embedded in real conservation work alongside the professionals protecting these animals every day.

Dr Chloe Buiting

Dr Chloe Buiting is a wildlife veterinarian and conservation leader working across Africa, Asia, and Australia. After more than a decade working in frontline conservation, she co-founded Global Protagonists to help bridge the gap she repeatedly saw in the field – connecting people, expertise, and funding directly to the projects protecting wildlife on the ground, while opening pathways for the next generation of conservation professionals.

Chloe has spent over a decade working with threatened wildlife including rhinos, great apes, carnivores, and marine species. Her work combines veterinary medicine, conservation strategy, and public storytelling to support both field operations and the broader movement protecting biodiversity worldwide.

SPECIALIST WELFARE CASES, SURGERIES & REHABILITATION

Depending on operational needs at the time, delegates may observe or assist alongside BOSF veterinary teams during welfare procedures, rehabilitation interventions, surgeries, post-operative care, and ongoing case management inside the programs.

These are not staged demonstrations or pre-prepared experiences for visitors.

They are real animals, real welfare challenges, and real conservation medicine unfolding inside one of the world’s largest orangutan rehabilitation efforts.

One of the orangutans connected to this mission is Kopral.

As a juvenile, Kopral escaped illegal captivity, climbed an electricity pole, and was catastrophically electrocuted. The injuries were so severe there was initially very little hope he would survive, with much of his limbs permanently destroyed.

But somehow, he adapted.

Today, he climbs trees with what remains of his limbs, builds nests, navigates the forest in entirely new ways, and continues to surprise the people caring for him with just how intelligent and resilient he is.

More recently, Kopral developed severe foot complications which required surgery, however his recovery has been difficult and the wounds have not healed as hoped. Because of this, part of this mission will involve bringing together specialists to help design rehabilitation and physiotherapy approaches specifically for his case – something BOSF teams believe may be one of the only cases of its kind anywhere in the world.

Visiting veterinarians, physiotherapists, rehabilitation specialists, nutritionists, and medical professionals may have the opportunity to contribute ideas, protocols, and practical support alongside BOSF teams on the ground as they navigate the ongoing challenges of his recovery and long-term welfare.

This is the level of work this mission is built around.

INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS

Includes:

All accommodation
Airport transfers
All meals (catering to all dietary requirements)
Mission logistics
BOSF permitting and access
Veterinary and rehabilitation program exposure

Excludes:

International flights
Visa and entry requirements
Travel insurance (required)

WHO THIS IS FOR

You do not need to be an orangutan expert, a veterinarian, or have specialist qualifications to join this mission.

But you do need to want to step closer to the realities of frontline conservation work.

This expedition is designed for people who are curious, capable, emotionally intelligent, adaptable, and excited by the idea of contributing to something meaningful alongside the people doing the work on the ground.

That may include:

veterinarians
wildlife professionals
conservationists
medical and rehabilitation specialists
photographers and storytellers
adventurous humans wanting genuine exposure to frontline conservation
people looking for something far beyond passive tourism

Some participants may bring highly specialised skills. Others may simply bring the right mindset, energy, work ethic, and willingness to help wherever needed. Both matter here.

What matters most is understanding that this is not a polished tourist experience.

It’s a rare invitation into the messy, emotional, operational reality of orangutan conservation in Borneo.

TRAVEL & LOGISTICS

This is Borneo. Expect humidity, mud, jungle storms, early starts, long field days, and the occasional operational pivot as animal welfare priorities shift in real time.

One moment you may be moving through active rehabilitation zones with BOSF teams. The next, you’re crossing into orangutan island systems by boat, watching sun bears tear apart enrichment barrels, or sitting under the jungle canopy after a full day inside one of the world’s largest great ape rehabilitation projects.

This mission operates under strict BOSF protocols at all times, including:

mandatory health screening
quarantine periods
strict biosecurity
restricted access areas
operational flexibility depending on welfare priorities on the ground

Animal welfare comes first. Always.

Participants will arrive into Balikpapan, Indonesian Borneo, where airport transfers into Samboja Lestari will be coordinated by the BOSF and Global Protagonists teams.

Once confirmed, participants will receive a detailed welcome pack covering:

flights and arrival information
visas and insurance
health testing requirements
packing lists
accommodation details
cultural considerations
onboarding call with us and the rest of your team
and all mission logistics prior to departure

WHY WE SAID YES

Because conservation is full of people sitting on the sidelines saying someone should do something.

And every now and then, you get invited into a room where the people actually doing the work ask if you can help.

This was one of those moments. So we’re going - and this is your invitation to join us.

(We don’t generalise impact. After every mission, you receive a clear and personalised impact report — showing exactly what was deployed, installed, recorded, and actioned on the ground. This is direct, measurable work — because you were there.)