ANIMAL experts from Launceston have departed on an emergency mission to help save Orangutan’s in Sumatra.

While many people are planning Christmas and working out their Christmas shopping, OVAID co-founders Dr Nigel Hicks (vet) and Sara Fell Hicks from Launceston have packed their suitcases with veterinary medicines and equipment to urgently head to Sumatra on an emergency rescue mission.

On December 11, the pair flew to Sumatra in Indonesia after a devastating landslide at the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (OCP) destroyed the veterinary clinic. Nigel and Sara, along with vet Dr Loretta Francia are taking lifesaving equipment and medicines for the devastated team based at SOCP.

The Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme started its Orangutan Quarantine and Rehabilitation Station in 2001, however, 23 years later, disaster has struck.

Dr Hicks said: “Our focus is to replace and re-equip the clinic facility with everything OVAID has donated over the years.

“OVAID has a longstanding and very close relationship with the centre and the vets, having lived and worked alongside them. The charity has also run specialist workshops on-site and mentored their newly graduated vets.

“Whilst we have drawn on our charity resources to supply the centre's most immediate and pressing needs, properly re-equipping a new clinic facility is a daunting task and will take a huge sum of money.”

As a result, OVAID is launching an urgent appeal to raise £25,000.

Dr Hicks added: “Your donation will be used exclusively to provide veterinary equipment and medicines and to help these dedicated vets continue to provide the utmost care for their beloved orangutan under the most difficult and taxing conditions.”

“The equipment includes essential medicines, patient critical care monitors, anaesthetic machines, autoclaves, haematology and much more.”

The trio are carrying approximately 236kg of donations with a value of £36,000.

Donations can be made via: www.justgiving.com/campaign/ovaidsumatravetappeal