That day, heavy rain poured over Sintang throughout the morning, making the atmosphere feel cold and damp. Rosi seemed lounging in her hammock with Annette. The two of them were cuddled together, as if seeking warmth in the chilly weather. Due to the unfavorable weather, they didn’t engage in much activity that morning, choosing instead to rest together in the hammock, enjoying the quiet morning wrapped in the continuous sound of the rain.

When they saw the animal keeper starting the morning by providing food, Rosi and Annette finally moved towards the front of the cage. As usual, Annette moved first, followed by Rosi, who trailed behind. They both then began to enjoy their morning meal, one item at a time. The morning menu consisted of cucumber, oranges, sweet potatoes, guava, and water spinach.

Rosi, as was her habit, always grabbed the fruits first—like oranges and guava—before leaving the vegetables, such as water spinach, to finish at the end. Notably, Rosi always followed what Annette ate. Although Rosi had her own habits, like preferring fruits first, she would observe and follow Annette’s food choices. If Annette started eating something different, Rosi would usually adjust herself and follow Annette’s lead, ensuring they remained in sync with their eating activities. This reflects the close bond between the two, with Rosi often observing and mimicking Annette’s behavior, including the order in which she picked her food.

While the animal keeper performed his routine task of cleaning the cage, Rosi and Annette were still busy finishing their meal. However, upon noticing the animal keeper approaching the cage for cleaning, both quickly ran to the back, leaving their food at the front. Rosi and Annette seemed to feel the need to distance themselves to avoid direct contact.

After ensuring that the animal keeper had moved on to another cage, Annette took the initiative to retrieve the food left at the front. Cautiously, she approached the front area, picked up two cucumbers, then returned to the back where Rosi was waiting. Annette shared her findings with Rosi, giving her one cucumber and keeping one for herself. At the back of the cage, they both continued to eat quietly, sharing the remaining food.

SINTANG ORANGUTAN CENTER – Project Report Q3

We do not want orangutans in rescue centres; we want them in forests. However, whilst forests are being cut down and animals, especially babies, are being taken by ruthless traders, rescue centres are essential.

Orangutans, the great apes of Asia, are critically endangered. The Sintang Orangutan Centre (SOC) has been doing wonderful work for more than 14 years. By providing a rescue and release programme, as well as a ‘forest school’ programme, the rescued orangutans at SOC have a chance at being successfully released back to their forest home.

This year we are very happy to work with a German volunteer group, Lebensraum Regenwald, to co-sponsor a specific orangutan at SOC. We believe the sponsorship will not only help “Rosi”, our sponsored baby orangutan, but also encourage others to support the work of the Centre. There are many other orangutans at SOC that could be sponsored. Please do consider helping SOC in any way possible and let us know if you are interested in supporting the centre or sponsoring an orangutan.

We have provided more information below about the sponsorship of lovely baby ‘Rosi’.

Please do whatever you can to help animals in need this World Animal Day (and any other day too, if possible).

Thank you very much for the generous donor, Dr Krieger, who has enabled Masarang HK to co-sponsor baby Rosi. We sincerely appreciate your kindness and generosity.

Thank you.

Masarang HK Volunteers

One afternoon, after they had finished their usual meal, Annette noticed something that caught her eye—some leftover kale in Beno’s enclosure. Always the observant one, Annette’s attention was drawn to the remnants of food, and it seemed Rosi instantly understood what she had in mind. Without hesitation, Rosi followed Annette closely as they both climbed to the top of the enclosure. Working together, they managed to retrieve the leftover kale and happily shared the spoils, eating together until every last bit was gone.

This particular routine wasn’t an isolated incident; in fact, a similar pattern is observed during their lunch sessions. Rosi, displaying a remarkable sense of deference, always waits for Annette to take her portion first before helping herself. It’s as though Rosi is constantly attuned to Annette’s actions, hesitating to grab her own food if Annette hasn’t started eating yet. While they usually share their meals side by side, there was an occasion when Rosi, feeling a bit more independent, chose to distance herself slightly from Annette. She climbed up high and began eating alone, swinging in the air. But even in moments like these, their bond was evident. Just as Rosi was nearing the end of her meal, Annette appeared, making her way over to her friend. Without any fuss, Annette managed to sneak a small portion of Rosi’s food, as if gently reminding her of their shared companionship. After that brief interlude, the two were back to their usual selves, resuming their activities together as though nothing had changed.

What’s particularly fascinating about Rosi is her protective nature when the animal keepers approach. If Annette seeks attention or wants to be stroked by a keeper, Rosi will often spring into action, positioning herself as a barrier between Annette and the keeper. She will bare her teeth and sometimes even attempt to bite, as if to show her deep sense of loyalty and protectiveness over her close companion. It’s a clear sign that Rosi sees herself as Annette’s guardian, always looking out for her wellbeing.

Beyond her close relationship with Annette, Rosi has her own playful side, particularly when it comes to her personal space within the enclosure. She has a special fondness for her shelter, where she often disappears. Inside the shelter, she can be seen spinning around playfully, only to then swing on her hammock with visible enjoyment. Her hammock is her favorite spot, and she often combines playtime with other activities, such as eating her food or engaging with her enrichment items. It’s in these quiet moments of play that Rosi’s personality truly shines, revealing not just her attachment to Annette, but also her playful, independent streak.

it’s wonderful work.

We have some exciting news about a particular orangutan from the Centre which will be uploaded very soon!

Our loyal simple mini pick up that has been essential over the years to pick up so many animals from rescues and confiscations and provide our project with all the supplies for the hundreds of animals with all their different needs of the right food types from all over. Here ready to take the soon to be released animals to the boat that will take them to Ambon and Ternate islands.

People normally just see a row of people in uniforms and with surgical masks in front of some cages with birds to show the work. But so much of the hardest work is invisible. It starts with the rescues and facing off with angry people and threats. After the evacuation the vets have to go through strictly controlled protocols for quarantine and medical tests and have to deal with wounded and stressed animals first. Then the process of rehabilitation and socialization. And then to get the special made transport cages and supplies ready and a final medical check before the animals can finally be on their way to freedom. All this work and these expenses are seldom realized by people visiting the news clips. Sometimes the animals are for years in our care before we have the means and places to bring them back to where they belong. So I think the following two pictures show a much more complete picture of the ongoing challenges Masarang’s Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue and Education Center is facing to achieve this final step that we normally only see in newspapers and clips and short interviews with officials.

This time we sent back 68 protected animals of 7 different species out of which 63 were parrots, some of the most traded and threatened species that are hugely popular pets inside as well as outside of Indonesia. We still have to take in hundreds more from The Philippines for example. And the trade still continues. Without the presence of our Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue Center near the Bitung hub port the trade would likely be even worse.

These two pictures below show that there will be more needed… Law enforcement has to be the key. On the right two of the dogs at Tasikoki trained to smell for smuggled wildlife in luggage at airports and harbors.

Below is the report by Billy Lolowang on this transport of animals. We want to thank all our donors that enable us to continue to stand up for nature.

These animals were confiscated and rescued from illegal wildlife trade and illegal pets by the North Sulawesi Natural Resources and Conservation Agency (BKSDA Ssulawesi Utara), which were then entrusted to the Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue Center to undergo treatment and rehabilitation. These animals have had their health checked and declared fit to be returned to their original habitat to be released back into nature.

This translocation is actually scheduled to take place last year. But, during the health check for sampling the Psittacine Feather and Beak Diseases (PBFD), some of the parrots that are planned to be translocated are indicated by this disease. We had to repeat the health check and do full screening for all the parrots in Tasikoki to make sure which one got infected and needed to be isolated and which one is healthy and ready to be translocated or released.

The translocation of the animals was carried out by the North Sulawesi Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA Sulawesi Utara) with support from the BKSDA Maluku and positive partners WCS-IP, the Masarang Foundation (PPS Tasikoki), and the World Parrot Trust. To make sure the safety of the animals on the boat during the translocation, the transport was joined by the staff from BKSDA Sulawesi Utara, drh. Avivah (vet) and Noldy (animal keeper) from Tasikoki WRC and also drh. Fahmi (vet) and Angela from World Parrot Trust. Every few hours on the ship to Molucca, we are checking the birds to make sure they are okay. On the board we feed them, give them enrichment and also extra nutritious supplements to keep the birds in a good shape before they arrive at their destination.

22 June 2024, morning around 7am we arrive at the Ternate Sea-Port, where there are the officers from BKSDA in Ternate already waiting to pickup the animals. In total there is 48 animals are off board in Ternate, immediately transferred to the transit cages under BKSDA facilities. Drh. Avivah (Tasikoki) and Angela (WPT) are off board the ship also to help the officers in Ternate taking care these birds for a few days.

The next day on 23 June 2024, the rest of the translocation team and 20 other birds are arrived at Ambon Sea-port. We immediately transferred these birds to the Pusat Konservasi Satwa (Wildlife Conservation Center/WCC) under BKSDA Maluku facilities. Noldy, Billy (Tasikoki), and Fahmi (WPT) are also stayed for a few days in Ambon to help the officers in WCC to taking care these new arrived birds and doing a little bit of capacity building for the animal’s keepers in WCC Ambon.

We would like to thank to all the peoples that donated and help for the rehabilitation of this animals in Tasikoki, so we were able to send them back to where they belong including Artenschutzstiftung Zoo Karlsruhe and Dr. Manfred Krieger who contributed much to the care before this transport became possible.

Hopefully these animals will be released soon to the wild in Halmahera and Ceram Island; after they got rest a little bit from the journey back home on the boat. We hope to keep you updated on their progress in these final steps.

THE LIST OF THE TRANSLOCATED ANIMALS

A most special man has left us. A young pastor from the far south of Limburg who subsequently spent almost his entire life in the interior of Borneo with the Dayak tribes he loved. And that love was mutual.

Much has been written and reported about the enormous variety of initiatives he developed, such as his technical skills as a pilot, installer of radio communication systems in the interior, founder of the still active volunteer fire brigade of Sintang, initiator of the cooperative of more than a thousand Dayak women who are making their weaving culture a proud symbol of Indonesia, even worn in clothing by the president. He always looked for ways to raise funds for  the many Dayak women he helped to study. And then we haven’t even talked about his three cultures museum in Sintang or his work for the orangutans, the fight against oil palms, the sugar palms/illipe nuts/medicinal and coloring plants as sustainable income, the Ensaid Panjang longhouse and so on.

I prefer to talk about my friend and his great empathy. As a pastor he was expected to obey and his vibrant energy and many initiatives were often thwarted and attempts were made several times to get rid of this “rebel” in the eyes of his order. However, there were always still friends within the church who protected him. The six-month period in Rome was part of one of those episodes to calm the mood in Sintang. Already in the seminary he was known as the “kloengelaer”, meaning more or less a person that never sits still and does strange things that other people don’t do. He secretly made a small radio that he connected to his fellow brothers via the gutter of the seminary building so that they all could secretly follow the football matches. His activities at the seminary with his tape recorder as a member of a club called the “sound chasers” caused great consternation among the teachers and hilarity among fellow seminarians. His recording of a well-known Christimas song, sung slowly by fellow residents, was played at high speed during the official Christmas celebration and that prank almost cost him his place at the seminary. And how many times have we not heard about what a cuckoo clock repairing pastor was doing with all those women and animals out there in the jungle of Borneo. Inappropriate!

Jacques’ strengths were his sharp intuition and enormous charm combined with a vibrant zest for life and enormous empathy for everything and everyone. Everybody from all walks of life visited him and all guests were always welcomed with open arms. The Chinese people brought him food and helped with other needs. Hendra, doctor Yani, Yosua even tall Andy from the supermarket, they all loved him. The Muslim community helped with all kinds of repairs, construction and expansion activities and often did not want to accept compensation for their services. These muslims also regularly brought food to the Kobus house. The Dayaks were also regulars to his home and he helped their artists by collecting their paintings and sculptures. His whole house is now like a museum full with unique pieces with Dayak themes.

He saw the ancient tools of the Dayaks disappear and collected and saved them. His collection became the basis for the Dayak section in the Sintang museum. When the government started making certificates for the land in the interior, Jacques arranged hundreds of certificates of the land of the Dayaks who initially laughed at him as if anyone would dare to steal their land and their would be a need for such a piece of paper. He prevented companies from the big city from taking over all the land especially along the main roads and kept the certificates in his safe. Years later, when the land had become many times more expensive, he saved many Dayak families that had financial problems who were then able to collect the certificate by “paying” only two bottles of rice wine.

His brother Marcel and many friends from the Netherlands made it possible for him to offer better opportunities to so many Dayak women. He also had many friends in Indonesia, such as Mrs. Utomo who had two longhouses built, one for the women’s cooperative and one for the village of Tembak.

I first heard of Jacques Maessen, or “Pastor Mas” as the local people address him, through a letter from him in 1993. He had heard of the Dutchman who worked at the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry as an advisor to the Minister for reforestation and conservation programs and worked with orangutans too. He had a small orangutan at his house and asked for advice. I wrote back to him that it was illegal to keep orangutans and that he should surrender it to a rehabilitation project, after which he wrote me an angry letter, saying “who do you think you are and that the Dayaks manage their own affairs and did not need Jakarta to tell them what to do with their orangutans”. I then sent my forestry police to confiscate the orangutan from him. This was not taken in gratitude and led to our hostile relationship. Brother Martien Dol, a Dutch brother who founded and managed a large printing company in Jakarta, knew both me and Jacques and, without our knowledge, arranged for us both to be invited to a dinner at Jacob Vredenbregt’s mansion in Jakarta and arranged for us to sit opposite each other at the dining table. That resulted in a good conversation that opened both our eyes and I was sincerely impressed by Jacques and promised to visit him in the interior of West Kalimantan. This was in 1998 and Dudung and I flew on a missionary Chessna single engine airplane from Pontianak to Sintang. But the pilot was unable to make contact with the airport despite the flight having been officially announced. After landing at a completely deserted landing strip we called the manager of the airport, which turned out had not seen a plane arriving in over ten years. He came excitedly running over with the keys and we were able to greet Jacques and a group of cute 5-year old Dayak girls in traditional costumes on the other side of the fence. That visit became the start of Jacques’ first animal rescue project in the garden, initially for sun bears, gibbons and other animals which later became the Sintang Orangutan Center.

Since that day I have travelled to Sintang many times and was given my own room upstairs with Jacques at the Kobus house where my suitcase with clothes and field shoes is still kept for my visits. We set up the Tuak Boys Club, where the inauguration of new members was arranged over a glass of rice wine in magnificent kitsch glasses decorated with fake gold on the upstairs terrace, overlooking what Jacques told everyone was the most beautiful garden in Southeast Asia with the stolen view. Because at the time, the garden was directly adjacent to the Baning city forest of 200 hectares and the garden connected perfectly with this peat swamp forest. Many of you who read this will gratefully remember the special hours on this terrace and the proverbial hospitality of Pastor Mas.

Together with Jacques I made many trips, on foot, on the back of motorcycles, with 4WD vehicles and with Chessna planes to remote villages where, without exception, his name opened all doors. We often slept together under a mosquito net. I remember the long journey to the village of “Bruder Martinus” for the sugar palm project. On the way back we got two flat tires. But after half an hour a car stopped. “Pastor Mas!” they exclaimed. And thus we were able to continue with their car while the passers-by repaired our vehicle. We waited for our car in a village 15 kilometers further towards the village of Putussibau. But people saw us and immediately we were led into a local house held by the arm and instantly food and drinks were provided. When our car arrived, repaired, we continued our long way back to Sintang. But when we stopped for gas it happened again. Mr. Pastor, remember you married us! You baptized our son. And again there was no escape from sitting and eating and drinking with these Dayaks for a long time. Another stop for a toilet break and the same thing happened again. Jacques was welcomed everywhere with great love and open arms, he is truly a household name in the interior of Borneo.

Whether it was the district head (Bupati) or the sultan or the bishop, everyone visited  Jacques at the Kobus house, where he lived and where he had a drink every day with Piet van Hooff who lived not far away and belonged to the same Catholic order as Jacques.

Every morning Jacques and I would sit on the terrace downstairs at half past five sharp and watched the fog lift above the forest and the first sun rays appear. We talked a lot about Jacques’ adventures and I have written many notes about them that are well worth publishing when I may have time.

Unfortunately, I and his many friends were startled by Jacques’ sudden disappearance. He was taken by the arm by two members of the order and taken against his will to Jakarta and from there to Bandung. He sent several distress calls asking to be rescued. His faithful secretary Angeladwi always had his live location on, so we could follow exactly what happened to Jacques. He was moved under the guise that he was seriously ill with cancer. It was an unpleasant story, the details of which I will not repeat here, but ultimately by signing a letter of guarantee that we took over the responsibility for Jacques’ care and all other obligations in case he needed support, Jacques was able to leave the room in Bandung and return to his beloved home and friends in Sintang, where he spent the last happy years of his life. Especially the 2023 Christmas we had a lovely 8 days together visiting so many of his friends and going to the Christmas holy mass in the Sintang Cathedral.

When Jacques had health problems, he received the best care thanks to Dudung and Dwi in Kuching and in Pontianak and from his loyal Chinese doctor friends. But the last time in the hospital things went wrong again. Again I refrain from saying more here. I spent many hours with him in hospital and when I played old songs from his birth region in The Netherlands for him on my laptop, he was completely happy till the end.  

He is missed greatly but I know my wonderful friend and pastor to many of us will never be forgotten.

For the Hong Kong-based artisanal chocolate company, Cacao: Guilt Free Luxury Chocolates, 

Masarang’s Arenga palm sugar is a key ingredient in almost all of their products. 

On their trip to Indonesia in 2023, they sat down with Willie to talk about the making of the

Masarang Foundation palm sugar, and its many benefits to local people, wildlife and habitats.