Janice Wilson
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
I am a resident of Bonny Hills, North Coast NSW.
In the seventies I attended art classes at Newcastle Tech and Alexander Mackie college in Sydney.
My early focus was on drawing and photography. Over the intervening years I have exhibited a variety of mediums...watercolour/oils/acrylics/pastels and mixed media.
Drawing and pastels are still a strong part of my art expression.
I like strong design and good colour combinations in mainly figurative / representational works.
ARTIST'S REASON FOR PARTICIPATING
Ten years ago I researched a theme on orang-utans as an idea for a children's picture book.
I was unable to go ahead with this, but kept some of my sketches. When my friend Terri told me about the project I was delighted at the opportunity to be involved, and to help in some small way to promote the work done to rehabilitate this unique threatened species.
PUNGKY
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The Acrobat with Attitude
He rolls like a wheel, climbs like a pro, and squeaks like a toy—but don’t tell him “no.”
Pungky’s early life is a mystery. One of 11 orangutans transferred from the now-closed Sintang Centre in 2011, he arrived at the International Animal Rescue (IAR) Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, along with others who had received minimal documentation or history. Despite the uncertainty of his past, Pungky has grown into one of the most animated personalities in the forest.
Now a strong juvenile orangutan, Pungky is best known for his fearless climbing, gravity-defying stunts, and larger-than-life tantrums. When he's told he can’t do something, he often throws a theatrical fit—rolling over himself like a wheel, squealing indignantly, and sometimes chasing after babysitters to nip their ankles! If he can’t catch them, he plops down with a dramatic pout and lets out tiny squeaks that sound like he's fake crying.
Despite his sass, Pungky has a gentle and affectionate side. He enjoys quiet moments and can often be found spending time with his close friends Melky and Mimi. He’s equally comfortable playing solo, exploring the forest with boundless curiosity.
Known for sneaking away from forest school to check in on human construction sites, Pungky keeps everyone on their toes.
But his journey from unknown origins to forest explorer took its most important turn in late spring 2018 when he was officially released into the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park. There, he began his life anew—wild, free, and still squeaking his way through the treetops.
A 2019 IAR monitoring mission encountered Pungky and Shila, confirming that he was doing well in the forest. His successful rehabilitation is a shining example of IAR’s commitment to rescuing, healing, and returning orangutans to where they belong—among the trees.
https://youtu.be/56ShPEoCiaE?si=DET0En6QXPoDJVl8 link to video of Pungky and Shila in the wild
