Meet Anna Ingrid Woolcott Feliciano. The Aussie lover Danish animal that lived in more countries than most people will ever visit.
Where are you from?
I am half Australian and half Danish. I am officially an Australian, and I was born in Canberra, I regret to say. Probably one of the most boring places in the world- no offense to anyone. My mother is from Denmark, Viborg a town called my father and an Australian born in Sydney.
How long have you lived in Indonesia?
I think I moved to Indonesia because my father was posted here as the Ambassador of Australia in 1975. I was only 16, and I go to school Embassy Jakarta (now known as JIS). After graduating in 1977 I worked in the Ragunan zoo for Orangutan Rehab center with a very eccentric and amazing woman named Ulrike von Mengden. I worked for a period of eight months until I moved to Kalimantan to help set up a rehabilitation center for orangutans. The center was founded by WWF and managed by the tree department of the University of Copenhagen, who was part of my university course. I spent a year in Kalimantan and left in 1979. Then returned to Indonesia with my husband and four children in 1991 to date. So I think that makes a of 25 years ... which is half of my life!
Being the daughter of a diplomat, I hear you've moved around a bit. Besides Indonesia, other countries have you lived and which has been your favorite so far?
start from the beginning. Born in Australia, moved to Russia and Malaysia and in Singapore we returned to Australia for a couple of years, until my father was transferred to Ghana. After we moved to Indonesia and the Philippines, where my father was posted as ambassador. After it was Denmark. I returned to the Philippines and then moved to New York, where I married my husband. After we moved to Singapore and Thailand and then back to America to a town called Darien, Connecticut. Then return to the Philippines. Finally, and finally back to Indonesia. Wow, it was hard to remember. So my favorite among the country I was living in was certainly Ghana. In Ghana, it was the people. I loved the people. I thought they were really nice. And of course the animals! Animals have always been my passion from a young age.
Wow, that's a of 10 countries! So tell us a little about your family. Where does your husband come from and how long have you been married for?
I have four children, a girl born in the Philippines, Bianca. Then my eldest son Marco was born in Singapore. Then my Paolo and Nicolas twins were born in Connecticut. The name of my husband Roberto Antonio Feliciano and is the Philippines, but strangely I have not met him while I was living in the Philippines but in New York, where he worked for Manufacturers Hanover Trust Bank. We married in Cold Springs, New York and had our honeymoon in Boston. We have our 26th anniversary on March 21! I can not believe I'm married for 26 years. It is impossible!
plans for Valentine's Day?
Well, normally I do not like to plan ahead. Pretty sure I'm leaving for my husband to surprise me!
Outside of your family, I was told that you also have a love for animals and orangutans in particular! Could you tell us a little more about the charities or organizations you've been involved in over the years?
I've never been involved with the World Wild Life Foundation and their programs of orangutans in Kalimantan, Sumatra and rehabilitation center in Jakarta. While my older son Marco was in JIS I helped organize a charity race to raise money for food, medicine and supplies to the rehabilitation center in Ragunan zoo still needs some help .
Do you have any funny memories or memories of your time working with the orangutans?
God ... a lot! I guess one of the funniest stories happened here in the rehabilitation center when I was working with Ulrike von Mengden. Baby orangutans had this habit of using Mrs. Von Mengden toilets as their personal hairdresser where they stick and rinse the head in the toilet, they would continue to spit toilet water to us and all use their hands to mess up their hair wet. They were so funny! They come out of the toilet walk as they were half drunk. Baby orangutans are the cutest things. Work in the field is an experience that is indescribable.
Which organizations you could recommend for other animal lovers interested in volunteering here in Indonesia?
Well, I'm out of the loop for a while now. There is only one that I can recommend, which is the rehabilitation center Orangutan at Ragunan zoo here in Jakarta. But my advice is, if you love animals, Indonesia needs a lot of care. You should look around, ask the zoo and other animal-related foundations like WWF and see if there are programs or volunteer opportunities about.
For more information and to help orangutans please contact the assistant Ulrike von Mengden Freifrau, Barbara Ossenkopp. Tel: 6281399393943 or email: orangutan_future@yahoo.com