Welcoming Longarm to Betws-y-Coed

Our friend and fellow conservation artist Casey Nadine Banwell has created a sculpture of a orangutan called Leuser, who currently resides in Orangutan Haven.

About Casey:

Casey Nadine Banwell is an internationally acclaimed, eight-time award-winning sculptress with over a decade of experience in the film industry.

Since 2020, Casey has turned her creativity toward wildlife conservation, using her talent to raise awareness and support for endangered species. Proceeds from her sculpture sales have funded the purchase of 46 acres of vital Sumatran rainforest, helping to restore a habitat corridor devastated by palm oil exploitation.

Leuser's Story:

Leuser is an orangutan that was freed from the illegal pet trade in 2004, when he was around 4 years old. He was held by a soldier from the Indonesian Military near South East Aceh. Leuser was then sent to the SOCP Reintroduction Centre, where he was eventually able to be released back into the wild. Unfortunately, in 2006, the team at the SOCP were told that a wild orangutan had been shot and captured. They sent him back to the SOCP for treatment.

Xrays revealed that Leuser had been shot 62 times, and had become blind as a result. Most of the pellets were focused in his face and genitals, so he couldn't see to fight or reproduce. Despite everything, Leuser survived. Now he is a relaxed and friendly adult male, but his blindness causes him a great deal of frustration.

We were inspired and affected by the story of Leuser, as was Casey, who sculpted his likeness into 'Longarm', where one of his versions is placed on the Betws-y-Coed Station Road to raise awareness of his journey. Another version will travel around the world, raising awareness with his arm out to take photos with everyone and to spread his story.