Orangutan Diary saves sanctuary

The director of the Orangutan centre in Borneo featured in BBC1's Orangutan Diary says the series has saved the sanctuary from closure. 4.3 million viewers watched the week-long series, presented by Steve Leonard and Michaela Strachan, and thousands donated money to the centre after an emergency appeal for funds - without which it faced imminent extinction. "We are thrilled with the quality of the series and its power to educate millions about the issues facing orangutans," says Michelle Desilets, Director of Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation UK. "The outpouring of support from viewers has meant that the Nyaru Menteng project can continue to do the important work of saving this magnificent species from extinction.” She added that many viewers had contacted her saying they had been moved to tears by the Tuesday night story of an emaciated orangutan mother and her baby. The two orangutans have now been released into the wild again after Steve Leonard flew back to Borneo to film an update on the centre. A second series of Orangutan Diary is likely to begin filming later this year, she added.