Exploring her passion for animals: Tiarni's inspiring orangutan adventure

From local programs to international wildlife conservation, Tiarni has embraced every opportunity to follow her dream of working with animals.

Tiarni tells us that her love for animals has always shaped her life, with her family planning holidays around animal-related activities to nurture her passion.

Last year, she participated in the Zoos Victoria Youth Leadership Program, which provided her with valuable insights into animal care and conservation. Later in the year, she headed to sunny Queensland to undertake work experience at Australia Zoo. This hands-on experience was transformative, as she learned about animal enrichment, husbandry, and the behind-the-scenes operations of a world-class zoo. It was here that her fascination with the animal world deepened even further.

This year, Tiarni took her love of animals to the next level by travelling to Borneo during the September school holidays. Alongside her mum, she volunteered with The Great Orangutan Project at the Matang Wildlife Centre. This conservation initiative gave her the chance to work closely with orangutans, sun bears, and macaques in a unique environment focused on protecting endangered species.

Tiarni says “The volunteer group I spent my time with were all amazing and we absolutely smashed all our jobs and really made a positive impact on the lives of the resident animals. We endured extreme heat, ridiculously high humidity, no hot water for 12 nights (not that it was needed) and some rustic accommodation.”

During her time at the Matang Wildlife Centre, Tiarni bonded with the resident animals and took on a variety of tasks. Her daily activities included maintaining night dens, crafting enrichment items from recycled materials, hiding food in enclosures to encourage natural foraging behaviours, and even helping to renovate the outdoor enclosure of Aman, the dominant male orangutan—a project that involved mixing ALOT of concrete by hand! Other highlights included entertaining the animals with bubbles and feeding crocodiles and porcupines.

Tiarni shared that “while all the animals where truly amazing to see and experience, I would definitely say that Carlos the orangutan (featured in photos) was a true highlight. Due to the location of his enclosure, it meant that we could see and spend more time observing Carlos and getting to know his huge personality. He was always curious to see what we were up to, whether it was bringing enrichment to his area or walking past with wheelbarrows and cleaning products. It was amazing to witness his strength rolling his tractor tyre around with ease while we struggled to lift it when cleaning his enclosure.

 “I was also surprised about just how adorable the sun bears are. They are inquisitive, super cute, gorgeous little furry creatures, but very cranky and grumpy. There are currently 17 sun bears at the sanctuary, with the majority coming from the pet and tourist trades. Luckily, they are now provided with a safe and comfortable home - they receive balanced diets, any medical treatment they may need, and lots of enrichment which is lovingly made by the volunteers.”

Reflecting on her experiences, Tiarni says working in this environment gave her a deeper appreciation for the challenges and rewards of conserving endangered species in their natural habitats. These adventures have solidified her desire to pursue a career in zoology once she finishes school.

“I really felt like we made a difference in the short amount of time that I was there, even if it was only small, or only for the day, but I felt like it made a difference to the animals’ lives. I was able to learn so much from the coordinators on site and the CEO of Project Borneo.”

“I will definitely be back to spend more time at this centre and I’m so thankful for my teachers who assisted in rescheduling end of term assessments & holiday homework to allow me to participate in this adventure.” 

While in Borneo, Tiarni celebrated her 16th birthday with her newfound friends who marked the occasion with a street party and cake!

Tiarni's story is a testament to the power of following your passion and embracing opportunities to make a difference.