AllStars Do good
Hammock Amok with Orangutans
Factbox
Location
Medan, Indonesia
Date
24 - 27 Jun 2016
Partner(s)
Overview
AirAsia Allstars joined forces with APE Malaysia to support the rehabilitation of rescued orangutans in Sumatra, creating enrichment tools that improve daily welfare and prepare them for life beyond captivity.
The Challenge
Many rescued orangutans at Sumatra’s only rehabilitation centre were victims of illegal captivity, poaching, or habitat destruction—some too young or too injured to ever return fully to the wild.
At the time of the mission, the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) in Medan was caring for 42 rescued orangutans, including seven infants whose mothers had been killed so they could be captured and sold as pets. Five orangutans had sustained permanent injuries, making lifelong care in a protected environment their only option.
To address this, SOCP was developing a dedicated Orangutan Haven—a safe, natural sanctuary designed to provide long-term quality of life while maintaining species-appropriate behaviours.
Volunteer Action
In conjunction with World Environment Day 2016, 30 AirAsia Allstars travelled to Sumatra to support SOCP alongside AAF grantee APE Malaysia. The team helped transport and repurpose 500 tonnes of decommissioned firehoses, donated by the Fire Departments of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
Working on-site, volunteers constructed 32 hammocks and multiple enrichment structures using firehoses and bamboo—creating elevated resting spaces and stimulation tools essential for orangutan wellbeing.
Outcomes
These enrichment items were installed across SOCP’s quarantine area and Orangutan Haven, supporting daily care, encouraging natural behaviours, and aiding long-term rehabilitation efforts. Beyond this mission, AirAsia Allstars continue working with APE Malaysia to extend similar enrichment initiatives to wildlife sanctuaries and zoos across the ASEAN region.
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