Leif is the founder of the International Elephant Project (IEP). He has worked for 30 years managing a wide range of animals, including Asian elephants. In respect to his professional, animal, human and financial management skills, Leif has been the longest standing member of the Australasian Species Management Program; a Quarantine-Approved Assessor; Zoo Husbandry Adviser; Zoo Accreditation Officer; UN GRASP in-country point of contact, an International Species Coordinator, International Studbook Keeper and the Chair of a World Aquarium and Zoo Association global conservation program.
Leif has several academic qualifications, including a Masters of Science. He lectures at universities, and has published papers in peer reviewed journals. Leif also has enormous field experience in protecting rainforest, rescuing and releasing wildlife.
Leif is currently: a Technical Advisor for PT Alama Bukit Tigapuluh (a company leasing and protecting rainforest), President of The Orangutan Project, President of International Tiger Project, Vice President of Orang Utan Republik Foundation and on the Advisor Board for Forest, Nature and Environment of Aceh.
Click here if you want to go on an eco-tour with Leif.
Clare is the Director and Chairperson of the Asian Rhino Project, President of the Silvery Gibbon Project and sits on the Conservation Fund Committee of The Orangutan Project and is a member of the IUCN Asian Rhino Specialist Group and Primate Specialists Group, Section on Small Apes. Clare has a particular passion for gibbons and has extensive experience in zoos, in particular the management of captive primates. She has worked with Exotic species for over 14 years. Clare has extensive experience in species management and has developed conservation strategies and assisted with rehabilitation and reintroduction programs for the Javan gibbon. She is committed to developing and assisting with more collaborative and holistic in situ conservation projects in Indonesia and South East Asia. Clare holds B.Sc. in Zoology/Marine Biology and Post Graduate Certificate in Captive Vertebrate Management and was awarded James Cook University Alumni of the Year for Science in 2013 for her contribution to wildlife conservation.
Kylie is the Conservation Project Manager for International Elephant Project, International Tiger Project, and The Orangutan Project. Kylie has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology (with Distinction) and First-Class Honours in Primate Behaviour and numerous other qualifications.
Kylie was the Senior Orangutan Keeper at Perth Zoo for over 14 years where she oversaw the diet, enrichment, health, behavioural, and breeding management of these Critically Endangered Sumatran orangutans. She has extensive knowledge and experience in the care and management of orangutans and other Exotic species including animal husbandry, captive and wild behaviour, ecology, and diet. Kylie was the keeper in charge of the world’s first two zoo born orangutans to be released into a protected area of Sumatran rainforest. Her book, ‘Reaching for the Canopy’ details her life with the Zoo orangutans and the months she spent in the jungle with the released orangutans as they adapted to jungle life.
As Conservation Project Manager, Kylie liaises closely with our partners and colleagues in the field and helps to develop conservation strategies for different areas, with a key focus on elephants, tigers, and orangutans. She is passionate and committed to our holistic approach to conservation and keeping supporters, donors and sponsors up to date with the work in the field.
Rebecca Wright : Board Member Rebecca has extensive experience in international, especially in Asian investment and corporate knowledge, particularly as it relates to non-profit organisations/charities, fundraising from private sector and government donors.
Rebecca also brings high level connections with international/multilateral organisations, such as the UN, UNEP FI, World Bank, and grass roots investors across Asia. In addition, Rebecca has a high level of understanding of international climate change negotiations.
The Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) was established in 2007 by Dr. Gary Shapiro who began his involvement with orangutans 43 years ago in the field of primate cognition and learning. He was the first person (1973-1975) to teach a symbolic communication system to an orangutan and the first person to have taught sign language to orangutans in the species’ natural environment (1978-1980; 1981 Indonesian Borneo) . During his time in Borneo, Shapiro assisted in the rehabilitation efforts of dozens of ex-captive orangutans and monitored the phenology of local rain forest ecosystem.
Shapiro received his doctorate in Zoology in 1985 from the University of Oklahoma then returned to Indonesian Borneo (1986) to conduct freshwater ecology studies. Shapiro’s interest in the freshwater ecology of Borneo was an extension of the research projects he conducted while being employed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (1982-1985). He was also employed for nearly 27 years with the state of California as an emergency planner and an emergency responder (1988-2014).
Shapiro was the co-founder and vice president of the Orangutan Foundation International from 1986-2004. He has authored or co-authored numerous papers on orangutan linguistics, cognition, conservation and ethics. In late 2004, Dr. Shapiro and his Indonesian wife, Inggriani, were inspired to create the Orang Utan Republik Education Initiative (OUREI) and in response to the education needs underscoring the crisis facing orangutans today, particularly in Sumatra.