or


[04/08/08 - 01:32 PM]
Animal Planet Soars Into 2008-2009 Season with Bold New Entertainment Slate
"We're breaking new ground with dramatic animal programming that takes risks and takes a stand," said Animal Planet's Marjorie Kaplan.







ORANGUTAN ISLAND (ANIMAL PLANET)
BROADCAST HISTORY:
11/2/07 - 3/1/09
STATUS:
canceled/ended (2008-2009 season)
TIME SLOT:
completed airing its current season
SEASON(S):
2 (27 episodes, 0 of which have yet to air)
VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEB SITE
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
a show on hiatus for longer than 12 months - without any news about its future - is assumed to be canceled
DESCRIPTION:
(from Animal Planet's web site, March 2009) A desperate struggle for survival is raging deep in the heart of Borneo's forests. Illegal logging is rapidly destroying the Bornean orangutans' last stronghold in the wild — leaving hundreds of orangutan babies orphaned and homeless. Their future seems bleak but a ground-breaking project provides real hope for ensuring the survival of the species. Meet the 35 classmates of Forest School 103 at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. These precocious red-haired "children of the forest" will get the opportunity, through this innovative project led by Lone Droscher-Nielsen and her team, to live wild on a protected island. Orangutan Island is the foundation for the largest primate rescue project in the world. For the first time on television, watch these orangutan children as they form their own society. Unlike wild orangutans, who live mostly solitary lives traveling across endless territory every day, this group will be confined to an island where they will need to learn to live together in a community, something that's not natural for them. Confinement issues lead to battles for dominance. Learning to bond with other orangutans, forming friendships and sharing knowledge are all issues they will face here but would not normally experience in the wild. Join the orangutans as they enter a whole new realm of real life education. Watch as Lone and her team transfer Cha Cha, Saturnus, Daisy, Chen Chen and all their classmates to the island. Experience the emotional roller-coaster as they each struggle to adjust to the transition from the Center. Find out if they will remember the skills they were taught to survive, whether foraging for food or avoiding dangerous predators. Just as important, will the bonds they formed while at Nyaru Menteng survive and serve as a basis for creating a society or will issues of dominance prove too destructive? The social and lovable Cha Cha goes into a crisis on her first day away from the Center. Hamlet tries to exert his dominance over Jasmine, but feisty Daisy and the mischievous "Bandit Boys" come to her rescue. These highly intelligent, gentle apes share 97 percent of our DNA making them some of our closest relatives. Yet they are as different in personality and needs as we are. Can they overcome their traumatized childhoods and cope without constant human support? Go with them on their journey to adulthood as they struggle to form their own society and learn how to live free on Orangutan Island.
PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Lone Droscher-Nielsen as Host
CREW INFORMATION:
· no information is available
GENRE(S):
· reality (all)
· reality (documentary)
STUDIO INFORMATION:
· no information is available