Celebrating World Orangutan Day Simultaneously Across Indonesia

Initiated in 2021, FORINA launched the celebration of World Orangutan Day, which falls on August 19, with the goal of commemorating it simultaneously across Indonesia.

This initiative stemmed from FORINA’s desire to celebrate World Orangutan Day in unison across the country. It all started with discussions to determine the theme to be highlighted. This was seen as a great starting point to foster unity among institutions involved in orangutan conservation, as collaboration had not been fully effective before.

In the first year of this collaboration, at least 57 organizations agreed to participate and work together in celebrating World Orangutan Day.

Initially, in 2021, the celebration was held online, featuring a variety of activities such as webinars on orangutans, competitions, quizzes, musical performances, theatrical shows, and even cycling events for orangutans.

All participating organizations were encouraged to contribute to a shared calendar, exchange event posters, and help amplify each other’s activities. As COVID-19 health protocols eased in 2022, regional forum members at the grassroots level began organizing in-person events.

Anyone organizing orangutan-related activities was welcome to collaborate, regardless of their institution’s specific goals and target audiences. Interviews with representatives from various organizations indicated that this synergy enhanced the effectiveness of each activity, allowing for a broader and more impactful reach.

In 2022, 2023, and 2024, the World Orangutan Day celebrations grew even more vibrant, with the number of participating organizations increasing each year. In 2024, a total of 75 organizations joined forces, sharing ideas, resources, and enthusiasm.

This success belongs to all of us—by us and for us. Every step and action taken strengthens collaboration from Aceh to North Sumatra, and from West to Central and East Kalimantan.

We hope that this collaboration extends beyond World Orangutan Day, influencing every orangutan conservation effort. Every small step we take together has the potential to make a significant impact on orangutan survival.

We always welcome anyone to collaborate in commemorating World Orangutan Day, whether in Indonesia or anywhere in the world.