Vet Nigel Hicks and  his wife Sara Fell Hicks have been working with orangutan in Borneo since 2009. Through their experiences they recognised a need for the provision of veterinary equipment, medicines and practical veterinary mentoring to orangutan rescue groups and rehabilitation centres in Indonesia and Malaysia. Initially through friends they raised funds to enable them to buy equipment which they personally took out to Indonesia. It soon became obvious that a more formal structure was needed and in early 2014 Orangutan Veterinary Aid (OVAID) was established.

 

 

 

The charity supports vets working at the front line of orangutan rescue whether this is from illegal pet homes, human orangutan conflict or the illegal wildlife trade. These vets and their teams are often working in difficult, demanding and dangerous conditions with minimal equipment.

 

Recognising the importance of practical help Nigel and Sara both spend as much time as possible each year volunteering at and assisting Indonesian rescue centres and have established a scholarship programme to allow Indonesian orangutan vets to travel to the UK to further increase their knowledge and skill sets.

 

Whilst based in England the charity has supporters globally and also has a dedicated core of volunteers working to fundraise and raise awareness on its behalf in Australia.

 

                                

 

 To date the charity has succeeded in helping: