The Orang Utan Republik Foundation was founded in October 2004 as the Orang Utan Republik Education Initiative (OUREI). OUREI began its mission as a project under Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE) to save wild orangutans from extinction through education and outreach programs. In 2007, the Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) was incorporated to continue its mission as a tax-exempt organization (EIN 26-0880405). In addition to funding a Education Initiative, OURF also supports a Conservation Initiative through its field operations in Sumatra.
Founded in October 2004 as the Orang Utan Republik Education Initiative (OUREI), the mission of the Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) has remained true to its founding principles - to save the orangutans of Indonesia through conservation education, outreach initiatives, and innovative collaborative programs that inspire and call people to ... Read more
Learn about the Orang Utan Republik Foundation's work and impact. Read more
While OUR leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and have a wide range of expertise, all are passionate about orangutans and engaged in saving the species through OURF. Read more
The Orang Utan Republik Foundation could not operate without the support of a committed team of volunteers dedicated to the foundation's mission. Read more
OURF values the corporate partners who have made a commitment to support our mission in various ways. Company leadership understands explicitly the value in what we are doing and wants to contribute in a tangible way. Some companies give a percentage of their sales or profits to our cause, others ... Read more
Gary L. Shapiro, Ph.D. began his involvement with orangutans 51 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 named Aazk (at the now Chaffee Zoological Park, Fresno, CA) and the first person to ... Read more
The Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) values the principles of good governance and has been improving good governance practices since its inception as a project (OUREI) under a fiscal sponsor in 2004. Once OURF was established in 2007, its board of directors has overseen the administration, management, and governance of ... Read more
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Most wild orangutans are found in the country of Indonesia. Wild orangutans are only found on the islands of Borneo and northern Sumatra. The orangutan's forest habitat in that country is declining rapidly due to habitat loss and poor forest management. As a result, orangutans are dying from causes that are immediate (killed as pests or for pets) and gradual (increased competition or starvation). To save the orangutan from extinction, local Indonesians must become aware of the unique qualities of orangutans; their need for forest habitat to survive; the laws protecting them; and the consequences of illegally buying, selling, or owning them. Ultimately, Indonesians must come to value orangutans and the other wildlife that lives in their country. This will come about through effective and continuous education combined with outreach campaigns conducted by the Indonesians themselves that move and inspire their society to ensure the orangutan's long-term survival.
At the same time, people outside the habitat countries need to better appreciate the orangutan and its role in the tropical ecosystem. The Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) aims to help save the orangutan by running conservation education programs that focus on the orangutan and its threatened habitat. These programs target both local and international audiences.
OURF can accept donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other charitable and grant-giving institutions in support of its educational programs.
OURF President Gary Shapiro, Ph.D. became involved with orangutans more than 40 years ago while 
investigating the symbolic communication abilities of a juvenile Sumatran orangutan at the Fresno Zoo. For his doctoral dissertation project, he spent two years in Indonesian Borneo teaching sign language to ex-captive orangutans in the first such study to take place in any ape's natural habitat. He later co-founded and served as vice president of the Orangutan Foundation International from 1986-2004. Dr. Shapiro and his Indonesian wife, Inggriani, were inspired to create OUREI in response to the education needs underscoring the crisis facing orangutans today, particularly in Sumatra.
To reach our goal of empowering Indonesians to become the main drivers of orangutan conservation, OURF oversees the activities of local Orangutan Caring Clubs; coordinates projects with other organizations; and implements education, outreach, and scholarship initiatives.
The list of OURF's accomplishments continue to grow as concerned people and organizations support our efforts to collaborate, motivate, and move the Indonesian public to save the orangutan and its habitat. The ultimate beneficiaries are not only the orangutans, but the people of Indonesia and all people around the world who depend on the important ecological services that the orangutan's tropical rainforest home provides, such as oxygen production, carbon sequestration, and regulated rainfall patterns.