Kristin Steele
$100.00 / year
Orangutan Foundation International Australia (OFIA) is delighted to add Kristin Steele to our foster program. She holds a particularly special place in our hearts as she is named in honour and memory of OFIA Founder Kobe Steele’s late daughter. OFIA is Kristin’s legacy.
Orphan orangutan Kristin Steele’s arrival at OFI’s Care Centre is sadly an all too familiar tale. She was reported to have been found “alone in a rubber tree plantation” some 100km from the Care Centre. She was being chased by village dogs, but luckily, the Forestry Department was informed and OFI was contacted. At just one year old, Kristin Steele would normally be inseparable from her mother, and we can only assume the worst. While it is a tragic loss, we now embrace her as part of our family.
Kristin Steele arrived at the Care Centre, small, weak and clearly traumatised, but in general good health considering the circumstances. When given a bottle of milk, Kristin immediately took it and knew how to drink from the bottle, which did make OFI vets question how long she was actually in the village before the Forestry Department was called in.
Over the first few days, she was wary of her new surroundings and comforted herself by closely hugging branches and blankets that caregivers provided. As Kristin became more comfortable, staff took her for daily visits to the nearby forest. She was a natural climber and immediately took to the trees. For one so young, Kristin is not overly dependent on humans, displaying an independence and inner strength, something that she clearly had developed in the time before her arrival. Kristin also enjoyed the fruits provided to her, especially bananas. In fact, Kristin loves bananas so much that if her caregivers can’t find her, they say “if you lose Kristin Steele, look in the banana basket.” Sure enough, she’ll be there headfirst, bum in the air! Over time the shine in her eyes has brightened and her belly has become more round.
Payment Options
Via credit card or cheque:
click here to download our foster form
Then post or email to us – details at bottom of form.
Please make cheques payable to Orangutan Foundation International Australia.
Via PayPal:
Description
FOSTER AN ORANGUTAN
- By becoming an Orangutan Foster Parent, you will help care for the orphaned orangutans at the OFI Care Centre and Quarantine (OCCQ) facility, during their rehabilitation back to the wild.
- As a Foster Parent you will contribute to providing the medical, dietary and emotional care that the orangutans need to thrive.
- Standard Foster Kits are $100.00 each and are emailed to you. Please add $15.00 postage if you would like your standard foster kit & 6-monthly updates posted to you. Please note – postal kits are only available within Australia.
- Each Foster Kit includes an electronic kit about your orangutan including biographical information, a frameable certificate, photos and updates on their progress every six months.
- Deluxe Foster Kit includes the standard Foster kit and an orangutan plush soft toy plus postage/handling costs.