After a long break due to the civil unrest in Aceh, research is running again in the unique peat swamp forests of Suaq Balimbing.

We are pleased to be able to announce that since the end of the civil conflict in Aceh, in 2005, the well known research station at Suaq Balimbing is now up and running again. Working closely with partners at the Leuser International Foundation and within the Aceh Provincial Government, as well as Professor Carel van Schaik at the University of Zurich (the original founder of the station at Suaq Balimbing), field research is once again being conducted on the unique orangutans of the peat swamp forests.

Suaq's orangutans are famous in the Ape world. Suaq supports the highest densities of orangutans anywhere in the world and was also the first site where wild orangutans where discovered to routinely make and use tools! Moreover, Suaq is especially close to the SOCP's heart, since it was in these peat swamp forests that SOCP's Director of Conservation, Dr Ian Singleton, studied the ranging behaviour of orangutans between 1996 and 2000 for his Ph.D, before joining the SOCP itself. Needless to say he is the most thrilled of all of us to be back in the swamps and able to work there again.