Hi Peter (it's Peter). We made the choice based on the field research they are doing on the ground and how that information has related to helping the Wildlife Dept. make decisions for "protected areas" such as the 26,000ha Lower Kinabatagan Reserve. The group has a strong bond with the local community (village of Sukau) and employs dozens of local villagers for the orangutan program as well as elephant conservation, community education, tree phenology, reforestation, a village based eco-tourism arm and other aspects. They have a long-term committment to the region (now 10-11 years) and the program is sustainable. This fragmented sub-population of 1,000 Orangutans really may have lost more habitat if not for some of the data this group has generated over the years and their partnerships with the Wildlife Department.

Excellent idea. We will do this as we gather some of the information from the animal care staff and try and relate the individuals back to some of our projects. The general Houston Zoo Blog will also have individual animal information from time to time.