One of Arbor Pride’s senior arborists, alongside colleagues from around the globe, came together in Sumatra to train a local Indonesian conservation group in tree-climbing techniques to support the work of the Sumatran Orangutan Society.
Self-funded with added help from fundraising and sponsorships, a team of professional arborists and tree climbers travelled to Sumatra to train a local NGO so they could build tree canopy bridges using special rope pathways. Endangered orangutans are inhibited from moving around safely in tropical forests of Southeast Asia, specifically the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, where canopies have been broken up by logging, agriculture and roads. Three sets of climbing equipment were donated, so once the training was complete, the local team would have enough gear to rotate through climbing, construction and maintenance of the canopy bridges.
On 7th August, the Sawpod team began its journey. With four kit bags brimming with donated climbing gear, Tony Darbyshire and Andy Pinder departed from Heathrow for Singapore, where they met fellow adventurers, Level 5 Arborist from Arbor Pride, Marcus (flying in from Sydney) and Geoff (from Vancouver). Four men from four corners of the globe, united by one mission: to equip and train the Tangguh Hutan Khatulistiwa (TaHuKah) team in tree-climbing techniques that could transform orangutan conservation, in partnership with the Sumatran Orangutan Society.
Before heading into the wild, the team caught their breath in Singapore’s Botanic Gardens, where Andy, drawing on his connections, arranged a guided tour. Standing beneath towering trees, they were reminded of why they had come: to see the ancient giants waiting deep in Sumatra’s jungles.
From Singapore, the real adventure began. Flying to Medan, Sumatra, they were greeted by some of the TaHuKah team, who would accompany them on a seven-hour drive into the heart of West Toba. The rainforest embraced them instantly: thick air heavy with life, river crossings that cooled aching limbs, nights alive with sound.
The TaHuKah team were soon kitted out, not just with climbing harnesses, ropes, and helmets, but also in brilliant orange expedition shirts that lit up the jungle with their enthusiasm. Training began in earnest, with the fundamentals of tree climbing techniques. Tony, Andy, Geoff and Marcus shared their skills, while translators Saphira and Lena not only bridged language but also joined them high in the canopy.
For four days, they trained. Coffee was brewed, meals cooked, karaoke sung and laughter carried on humid air. And then, the jungle revealed her treasures. First came the gibbons, leaping with acrobatic grace. Then, one morning, Marcus caught sight of something extraordinary: a mother orangutan with her young. For some of the TaHuKah team, who had worked in the forest for two years without such a sighting, it was a moment of pure wonder. Tears welled in our eyes. Hearts pounded. The team stood in reverent silence, knowing they were witnessing something sacred.
And just when they thought it could not get better, the forest gave them one final gift. On their last afternoon, word came to hurry, and there he was: a young male orangutan, his face framed by the beginnings of the great cheek pads that mark adulthood. Twice in one week, the rare and elusive guardians of the canopy had revealed themselves.
The Sawpod team shared one last meal with the drivers, translators, and new friends in Medan before scattering back across the world. But none of them returned home the same.
Because this was more than a trip. It was the start of something bigger. Thanks to the donated climbing gear, the TaHuKah team is now equipped to monitor camera traps high in the trees and to begin work on rope bridges—lifelines for orangutans whose forest homes are increasingly fragmented. The knowledge passed on will ripple outward, strengthening local capacity to protect the forests and the beings who depend on them.
We are left with unforgettable memories, a fierce sense of hope, and an unshakable responsibility. These magnificent creatures—the gentle, wise orangutans of Sumatra—are in peril. But they are not lost, not yet. With your support and with the courage of teams like TaHuKah, their story can still be one of survival.
To all who helped make this mission possible, we offer our deepest thanks. A film of our journey is in the making, and we look forward to sharing it with you soon. Together, we can help ensure that future generations will stand in the rainforest of Sumatra and feel the same awe we felt—watching orangutans swing freely through their ancient, irreplaceable home.
After returning from the rainforests of Sumatra, we are humbled, awestruck, and deeply inspired by what we experienced—and even more determined to protect the remaining Orangutans of this extraordinary island.
– Di and Tony Darbyshire, Sawpod Ltd, United Kingdom
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