Background
Indonesia's rich and rare wildlife is being exploited at a terrifying rate. Rainforests are cut down and animals killed or captured from the wild and traded, ending up in the legal and illegal pet markets and private zoos. The palm oil industry is now the main threat to the habitat of orangutans and other unique wildlife species.
International Animal Rescue's team in Indonesia grew out of a group called ProAnimalia International which cared for animals confiscated from the illegal trade circuit. The organisation was founded in The Netherlands in May 2004 and focused particularly on the large numbers of primates in need of help in Indonesia.
In 2006 it was agreed that International Animal Rescue would support the valuable work of ProAnimalia and provide funding for the construction of a new rescue and rehabilitation centre complete with a veterinary clinic. The local team had found a piece of land that could be leased for 20 years free of charge. It was then decided that the ProAnimalia team should become part of International Animal Rescue in Indonesia. During 2007 our new primate rescue and rehabilitation centre was built with lightning speed in Ciapus, near Bogor, on the island of Java.