Orangutan and Wildlife
Safety Regulations
Gunung Leuser National Park is home to around 10,000 species of plants, more than 200 mammal species, and some 580 species of birds. The National Park is also home to many endangered and protected species.
For this reason it is so important we engage in sustainable practices that protect this biodiversity and those who call the National Park home.
The Sumatran Orangutan, one of the most famous species that lives here in Northern Sumatra, is critically endangered. As an organisation, we are dedicated to doing our treks in the most sustainable way possible so that we do not cause further stress to this critical population. The jungle here offers much more than orangutans, and many of the species that live here are also endangered or endemic to this area such as Sumatran Tigers and Thomas Leaf Monkeys. We follow the rules from Gunung Leuser National Park Service because we believe that seeing these beautiful animals in the wild is a gift and sharing that gift shouldn't involve doing further damage. Therefore, when we encounter orangutans, or any other wildlife or birdlife, we will keep these rules at the forefront of our minds. We encourage anyone trekking in Simolap or the popular Bukit Lawang to do the same and tell whoever they are trekking with that they have read and would like to follow the rules so that we can protect this incredible biodiversity hotspot.
Rules for Trekking
The recommended maximum number of visitors per group is seven
This controls the risk of human impact and optimises your experienceVisitors who are sick should not go trekking near wildlife
Please report any sickness to your guide. Your guide can refuse a visit to anyone showing obvious signs of illness. If you have a cough or cold, you should wear a facemaskHealthy visitors should not be closer than 10 meters from orangutans
Visitors who have a cough/cold should not be closer than 20 meters
When you are close to an orangutan you should behave properly
Do not call the orangutans
Do not feed orangutans or give them drinks
Do not smoke, eat, drink, cough, sneeze or spit close to orangutans
Always stay in a close group and never lose contact with your guide
You should sit when watching orangutans
Be as silent as possible and use good body language (no shouting, no sudden movements, no making monkey sounds etc.)
Do not clear vegetation to get a better view
Do not stare at orangutans or use binoculars/cameras/videos if they are disturbed (kiss-squeak vocalisations and dropping branches are signs of stress and anger)
Do not use flash photographyPractice safe photography
Do not get closer than 10 meters to orangutans or any other wildlife
Do not use a self stick in an obtrusive manner
If an orangutan or other wildlife approaches you, please do not take photos or ask a friend/guide to do so. Taking photos prolongs the encounter and delays appropriate action
Do not use flash photographyWhen you are in the rainforest behave properly at all times
ALWAYS follow the instructions of your guide
It is forbidden to enter the rainforest without a guide or a National Park Permit
Do not pressure your guide to get closer to animals or give them food so you can take photographs
If you feel like your guide has behaved inappropriately inform the National Park Office or your guesthouse
Do not leave litter in the jungle or at campsites (e.g. tissues, water bottles, cigarette ends, food scraps). Litter must be carried outside of the jungle and disposed of. This includes fruit skins which carry your germs
If you must defecate you should dig a hole at least two feet deep. You can borrow a parang/machete from your guide. All faecal matter and tissue must be buried
Do not disturb or collect anything from the jungle such as flowers, insects, seeds etc.
IT IS STRONGLY FORBIDDEN TO HARM ORANGUTANS OR ANY OTHER WILDLIFE
This includes the indirect harm of getting close, touching and feeding them
DO NOT APPROACH ORANGUTANS. NEVER COME BETWEEN A MOTHER AND HER BABY
If an orangutan comes close and you cannot move away calmly, do not touch them
Do not stop to take photographs
Keep calm, try and sit down, do not make eye contact
If they take your bag DO NOT try to fight them for it. Your guide may be able to get it back later. You should only bring essentials into the jungle
Wildlife Safety Information
Additional Information about Wildlife Welfare.
Orangutans share 97% of the same genetics as humans meaning they are able to catch many of our human diseases! Diseases such as measles, TB, pneumonia, and influenza can be spread through coughing, sneezing and spitting. Other diseases such as scabies, hepatitis A, herpes, polio and worms can be carried through human faeces (this is why its important we bury our faecal matter at least two feet deep). What can be a simple cold for us can be very dangerous for orangutans and vice versa, we can also be affected by diseases that they carry.
Feeding orangutans, monkeys and gibbons can alter their normal behaviours and cause competition and aggression. Wild orangutans (like the ones around Simolap) spend most of their time high in the jungle canopy and rarely come to the ground. It is important that we don’t change these natural behaviours because doing so makes them sick. Although they may look like they are okay, prolonged changes to natural behaviours can cause high levels of stress that can lead to many health problems.
You can use the hashtags #KeepWildlifeWild and #SelfieAware to spread the message about safe interactions with wildlife and help raise awareness of the need to follow the rules and protect these endangered species here and around the world!