Sawpod
The TaHuKah team with Tony Darbyshire, Andy Pinder, Marcus Nicholson and Geoff Pugsley.
After returning from the rainforests of Sumatra, we are humbled, awestruck, and deeply inspired by what we experienced – and even more determined to protect the remaining orangutans of this extraordinary island.
On 7th August, the Sawpod team began its journey. With four kit bags brimming with donated climbing gear, Tony Darbyshire and Andy Pinder departed from Heathrow for Singapore, where they met fellow adventurers Marcus Nicholson (flying in from Sydney) and Geoff Puglsey (from Vancouver). Four men from far-flung corners of the globe, united by one mission: to equip and train the TaHuKah team in tree-climbing techniques that could transform orangutan conservation. TaHuKah (Tangguh Hutan Khatulistiwa Foundation) is a local NGO that’s doing incredible work reconnecting forest habitats for Sumatran orangutans and other wildlife.
Before heading into the wild, the team caught their breath in Singapore’s Botanic Gardens, where Andy, drawing on his connections, arranged a guided tour. Standing beneath towering trees, they were reminded of why they had come – of the ancient giants waiting deep in Sumatra’s jungles.
From Singapore, the real adventure began. Flying to Medan, Sumatra, they were greeted by the some of the TaHuKah team, who would accompany them on a seven-hour drive into the heart of West Toba. The rainforest embraced them instantly: thick air heavy with life, river crossings that cooled aching limbs, nights alive with sound.
A young male orangutan: the project trained and helped equip members of the TaHuKah team who are working on reconnecting forest habitats for these primates and other wildlife.
The TaHuKah team were soon kitted out – not just with climbing harnesses, ropes and helmets, but also in brilliant orange expedition shirts that lit up the jungle. Training began in earnest: with the fundamentals of tree climbing techniques. Tony, Andy, Geoff and Marcus shared their skills, while translators Saphira and Lena not only bridged language but also joined them high in the canopy.
For four days, they trained. Coffee was brewed, meals cooked, karaoke sung and laughter carried on humid air. And then the jungle revealed her treasures. First came the gibbons, leaping with acrobatic grace. Then one morning Marcus caught sight of something extraordinary: a mother orangutan with her young. For some of the TaHuKah team, who had worked in the forest for two years without such a sighting, it was a moment of pure wonder. Tears welled in eyes. Hearts pounded. The team stood in reverent silence, knowing they were witnessing something sacred.
And just when they thought it could not get better, the forest gave them one final gift. On their last afternoon, word came to hurry – and there he was: a young male orangutan, his face framed by the beginnings of the great cheek pads that mark adulthood. Twice in one week, the rare and elusive guardians of the canopy had revealed themselves.
The Sawpod team shared one last meal with the drivers, translators, and new friends in Medan before scattering back across the world. But none of them returned home the same, because this was more than a trip. It was the start of something bigger. Thanks to the donated climbing gear, the TaHuKah team is now equipped to monitor camera traps high in the trees and to begin work on rope bridges – lifelines for orangutans whose forest homes are increasingly fragmented. The knowledge passed on will ripple outward, strengthening local capacity to protect the forests and the beings who depend on them.
We are left with unforgettable memories, a fierce sense of hope, and an unshakable responsibility. These magnificent creatures – the gentle, wise orangutans of Sumatra – are in peril. But they are not lost, not yet. With your support, and with the courage of teams like TaHuKah, their story can still be one of survival.
To all who helped make this mission possible, we offer our deepest thanks. A film of our journey is in the making, and we look forward to sharing it with you soon. Together, we can help ensure that future generations will stand in the rainforest of Sumatra and feel the same awe we felt – watching orangutans swing freely through their ancient, irreplaceable home.
To find out more and support the project, visit www.sawpod.co.uk/orangutan-news
This article was taken from Issue 211 Winter 2025 of the ARB Magazine, which is available to view free to members by simply logging in to the website and viewing your profile area.