Ahead of releasing his debut book Nina Simone's Gum this fall, Bad Seeds member Warren Ellis — known for composing film scores solo and alongside Nick Cave, as well as collaborations with the likes of Marianne Faithfull — is adding another hat to his collection. The Australian multi-instrumentalist is opening Ellis Park Wildlife Sanctuary in Sumatra, Indonesia, to serve as, "a forever home for animals who are unable to be released back into the wild due to their injuries sustained from maltreatment by humans."
Strategically located on adjoining land with the Sumatra Wildlife Centre, Ellis co-founded the park alongside animal welfare activists Femke den Haas and Lorinda Jane after the musician purchased the land and donated it to Jakarta Animal Aid Network.
Ellis explained the rationale behind the sanctuary an interview with The Quietus: "I've lived a really amazing creative life that's really fulfilling. I guess I really wanted to feel like I was putting something back in, beyond what I do. I think it was as simple as that."
On the Ellis Park website, he added: "For a long time I have wanted to get involved with helping animals but was never sure where and what to do. It was the story and images [den Haas shared] of Rina the monkey with both arms amputated and a little dog with a broken jaw that made me want to help."
Rina is the symbol of Ellis Park. She was rescued from a wildlife trader in 2018 who had thrown gasoline on her hands in an attempt to dry the wounds the monkey had acquired from trying to free herself; she'd been chained to a pole. Now Rina's the face of the sanctuary and the perfect foster mom for their baby primates.
Check out the Ellis' Instagram post announcing Ellis Park below, and visit their website to find out more about the cause here.
Strategically located on adjoining land with the Sumatra Wildlife Centre, Ellis co-founded the park alongside animal welfare activists Femke den Haas and Lorinda Jane after the musician purchased the land and donated it to Jakarta Animal Aid Network.
Ellis explained the rationale behind the sanctuary an interview with The Quietus: "I've lived a really amazing creative life that's really fulfilling. I guess I really wanted to feel like I was putting something back in, beyond what I do. I think it was as simple as that."
On the Ellis Park website, he added: "For a long time I have wanted to get involved with helping animals but was never sure where and what to do. It was the story and images [den Haas shared] of Rina the monkey with both arms amputated and a little dog with a broken jaw that made me want to help."
Rina is the symbol of Ellis Park. She was rescued from a wildlife trader in 2018 who had thrown gasoline on her hands in an attempt to dry the wounds the monkey had acquired from trying to free herself; she'd been chained to a pole. Now Rina's the face of the sanctuary and the perfect foster mom for their baby primates.
Check out the Ellis' Instagram post announcing Ellis Park below, and visit their website to find out more about the cause here.
