Seattle, WA – Zegrahm Expeditions, the world leader in small-ship cruising and overland adventures, is committed to raising awareness and understanding of the challenges faced in each region that the company visits. On a recent trip, guests had the opportunity to tour the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in Sandakan, Malaysia, learn about the organization’s mission, and meet the resident orangutans.
“As a company, we believe that giving back is an essential part of expedition travel because it endears travelers to the local community,” explains Edwin Blythe, Zegrahm’s President. “To that end, we look for ways to support wildlife conservation programs or donate school and medical supplies to the remote villages we visit.”
Zegrahm’s donation to Sepilok will help complete a new enclosure for Nonong, a 12-year-old female gorilla that suffers from cerebral malaria, which paralyzed her left hand and foot. Because of her condition, she will never be able to go back into the wild and will be a permanent resident at the center. The new facility will ensure Nonong will have plenty of space to play while still enabling her to foster relationships with the other orangutans.
Zegrahm incorporates giving back into many of the company’s itineraries; an upcoming opportunity is the Rain Forests and Reefs expedition taking place in February of 2014. Guests will visit a convent and orphanage in Isla de Providencia, Colombia and donate school supplies to the local children. The 2-week expedition is priced from $11,980.