Sumatran Orangutan Society

SOS Staff

Lucy Wisdom, SOS Founder.

Lucy Wisdom founded the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) in 1997 after working as a long-term volunteer at the Bohorok Centre where she dedicated her life to the conservation and welfare of the Sumatran orangutan. Lucy's eclectic career included a stint as a trapeze artist, which made her an ideal surrogate mum for young rehabilitants, climbing trees and weaving "nests" from broken branches to encourage the youngsters to learn wild orangutan skills.

In addition to work in the field, Lucy turned her attentions to the set-up of SOS as a viable international charity, recognising that to move forward, she must focus her sights less on the individual and more on the larger conservation picture. "To me, every orangutan is an ambassador for its species. And the Sumatran orangutan is an ambassador for its rainforest."

Lucy sadly died on 19th December 2009. Please click here to visit her tribute page.

Helen Buckland, UK Director

Helen Buckland joined the SOS team in the UK in 2005. She has a Masters degree in Primate Conservation, and has had a wide range of jobs in the past, from being a zoo keeper to writing a report for Friends of the Earth and the Ape Alliance: "The Oil for Ape Scandal - How Palm Oil is Threatening the Orangutan". Helen conducted research in Central Kalimantan in Borneo for her MSc dissertation, examining the impact of the expansion of oil palm plantations on the conservation status of orangutans.

Dave Dellatore, Scientific Director, Medan

Dave first worked in Indonesia in 2001, volunteering with an orangutan organisation in Kalimantan until 2003.  He has a BA in biological anthropology and for his final project towards an MSc in Primate Conservation conducted behavioural research focusing on the ex-captive orangutans living near Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra. He joined the team in April 2008 at our project headquarters in Medan.

"I have come to see firsthand the need for and the potential power of environmental education.  Therefore I view the programmes run by the Indonesian staff of the SOS-OIC office here on the ground in Medan as absolutely essential and extremely important.  It is only through raising awareness and inspiring people to embrace conservation, in both national and international visitors, that the orangutan has a chance at survival."

Claire Baylis, Communications and Development Manager

Claire joined the SOS team in August 2010. She has a background in journalism, working as a writer and editor, and continues to contribute to a range of websites and magazines. Claire has specialised in environmental issues - she was the first Eco Editor of a UK women's magazine and has worked for publications and organisations including The Ecologist, Ethical Living, Sublime, Sideways News, Friends of the Earth and Forum for the Future. Completing an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Conservation and working for a local environmental charity only served to fuel her passion for wildlife conservation. It was this, and an interest in the environmental impact of consumer behaviour, which led her to SOS.

"People may finally be cottoning on to the value of biodiversity, but countless species are still at risk. The need to protect endangered species and their habitats has never been greater, so I am extremely excited to be part of the SOS team."

Poli, SOS Bali Manager

Poli received his degree in Political Science from Brigham Young University - Hawaii, USA. Prior to living and studying in the States, he was involved in community development and clean water projects in various rural areas on West and Central Java. Poli says:

"The work with SOS is a calling to me. I remember my dad told me how he liked to go wild pig hunting in the jungle not far from our home in North Sumatra. He described jungle as an actual shelter for humans and the wildlife. We witness in our days today many jungles and forests have gone by wastefully and irresponsibly. 6,700 of Orangutans left is not that many. I'm calling everyone to join us, together we help the efforts to spare Sumatran Orangutans."

Avanti Mallapur, US Branch Coordinator

Avanti joined SOS in January 2007 as the US Branch Coordinator.

"Wildlife fascinates me. My passion ever since I was a child has driven me to work with wildlife. I have had the opportunity to work with several different species of primates and carnivores and am extremely excited about working with the SOS family to save Sumatran Orangutans. My experience and qualifications in wildlife conservation and animal welfare help me assist both free-ranging and captive wildlife management. I hope to use my experience to help contribute to developing SOS's programmes, raising funds for future projects and supporting conservation awareness programs."