Dr Teo is best known in Australia as a fearless neurosurgeon, who pioneered the use of endoscopic techniques in brain surgery, minimizing recovery time for patients.
But many Australians would be unaware of his personal crusade to save the world’s endangered orangutans of Borneo and Sumatra, and significantly, the rainforests in which they live.
Eighteen months ago, Charlie, his wife Genevieve and their 4 daughters went on an eco-tour to Borneo to see the work of the world’s foremost authority on orangutans and founder of Orangutan Foundation International, Dr Birute Mary Galdikas.
They travelled by boat, deep into the heart of Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo’s Central Kalimantan region, where Dr Galdikas established the Camp Leakey research station 42 years ago. It remains an active research hub for these great apes, with Dr Galdikas continuing to head a dedicated team.
During their week long visit, Dr Teo and his family were instantly taken with Dr Galdikas, the quietly spoken orangutan lover, and inspired by her latest project to secure the orangutan’s habitat, by buying vast tracts of land, to prevent its wholesale destruction.
“At the time, Birute showed us the Rawa Kuno Legacy Forest, and told me she was raising $640,000 to buy it”, said Dr Teo. “I thought it was a massive project, but I knew I had to help”.
At the time, Dr Teo made a personal donation, but it would be more than a year down the track before Channel 7 offered Charlie an opportunity to “guest report” for the “Sunday Night” program, hosted by respected journalist Chris Bath.
“Like most people in our office I was dead keen to go to Borneo myself, but I was happy to be guzumped by Australia’s Most Trusted person”, laughed Bath.
“Charlie is an inspiration to us all”, said Bath, and given his passion for orangutans and his day job fixing brains, we thought his perspective on these great apes in captivity would be memorable.”
“Orangutans, share approximately 97% of our human DNA, and it’s blindingly obvious when you see the mothers interacting with their families with such “human like” qualities,” said Dr Teo.
“When you see baby orangutans in the care centres, you can SEE the pain on their faces. Dr Galdikas says many are heartbroken to have lost their mothers, often in violent confrontations with palm oil plantation workers. Their loss is all the more painful because orangutans in the wild stay close to their mothers until they are 7 or 8 years of age. “
“Don’t get me wrong, the OFI Care Centre is doing incredible work, but it was Birute who explained to me, that ultimately the orangutans belong in the rainforest, and unless we can secure their habitat, so palm oil plantations and illegal loggers can’t destroy it .. the orangutans will NEVER get back into the wild”.
There is plenty of good news though .. Orangutan Foundation International Australia, has played a key role in securing the Rawa Kuno Legacy Forest. In the space of 8 weeks, we raised $250,000 …. and when combined with Dr Galdikas’ funds, it allowed the purchase to go ahead, and on 28th January, 2013 the sovereign titles were exchanged.
It means this 3,000 hectare (6,400 acre) pristine rainforest and the 200 wild orangutans who live there, are safe from destruction …. and this is only the start.
Dr Galdikas has also paid a deposit for Kubu Forest, an adjoining piece of land, so more international dollars are desperately needed to buy it outright.
The purchase is all the more significant, after revelations the Indonesian government has threatened to close down all the care centres in Borneo by the end of 2015.
Whatever the reason, these adorable great apes, are on the brink of extinction.
It’s crystal clear …. Buying rainforest is not only the BEST way of securing orangutan habitat, it may well be the ONLY way.
Click here to learn more about the Orangutan Legacy Forest