Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme Suffers Disastrous Landslide
Emergency Aid Programme Immediately Launched By OVAID
At 1.00 a.m. on 27th November 2024 following severe floods throughout North Sumatra several devastating landslides struck the SOCP orangutan rehabilitation & rescue centre at Batu Mbelin near Medan the capital of North Sumatra. The landslide(s) completey destroyed the veterinary clinic and isolation & other orangutan cages.
Amazingly there was no loss of life or injury to either human or orangutans although 18 orangutans were swept out of their holding cages by the mudslides. The veterinary team have safely recovered all but one who remains safe but elusive.
The veterinary team have effectively been left with nothing and Orangutan Veterinary Aid were quick to respond to their request for help.
Drawing on reserves of some equipment held in stock and with the amazing generosity of the veterinary community, in a herculean effort, the charity has managed almost to fulfil the vets' emergency wishlist within a few days. It has assembled a team of 3 to travel to Sumatra immediately taking approximately £36,000 of donations and co-founders Dr Nigel , Sara and veterinarian Dr Loretta Francia will depart for Sumatra within a week of receiving the cry for help.
Dr Nigel Says:
“Our focus is to replace and re-equip the clinic facility with everything OVAID has donated over the years.
OVAID has a longstanding & very close relationship with the centre and the vets, having lived & worked alongside them. The charity has also, run specialist workshops on-site and mentored new vets.
Whilst we have drawn on our charity resources to supply the centre's most immediate & pressing needs, properly re-equipping a new clinic facility is a daunting task and will take a huge sum of money.
OVAID is therefore launching an urgent appeal to its supporters to raise £25,000.