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1. Orangutan Foundation's 30 Year Anniversary Appeal

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 10th Nov 2020

   The 8th to 14th November 2020 is Orangutan Caring Week. That gives me a great reason to tell you about a very special appeal which is being run by the Orangutan Foundation and the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme. The Orangutan Foundation celebrated their 30th Anniversary in October 2020 so it would be wonderful to see this appeal completed in the same year! They are looking to raise £300,000 for conservation work that’s really vital. In doing so, they want to save three species of orangutan:  The Bornean, Sumatran and  Tapanuli orangutans.  They are all critically endangered and are all suffering from a severe loss of tropical forest habitat.   As a result, their population numbers have plummeted by an incredible 90%.  What will the £300,000 be used for? In Borneo, it will be used for the following (and I’m kind of quoting): Protecting habitat in the Lamandau Wildlife Reserve and the Tanjung Puting National Park Protection the operation of 8 guard posts in the Lamandau Wildlife Reserve and two in the Tanjung Puting National Park Monitoring the health and behaviour of orangutans who have been released Supporting the veterinary and monitoring operations at 5 release camps Restoring degraded lands in the reserve Supporting the reforestation programme to increase the extent of habitat that’s suitable for the orangutans Conserving orangutans in landscapes outside conservation areas Collaborating with stakeholders across 2.5 million acres of prime forest habitat In Sumatra, The Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme needs funds urgently to: Manage peatlands in the Leuser Ecosytem Protect carbon-rich peatlands with the highest orangutan densities Protect the Tapanuli orangutans in the Batang Toru Ecosystem Increase protected status of their habitat and connecting fragmented forests  Build up newly established wild populations in Jantho and Bukit Tigapuluh Support SOCP’s reintroduction of rehabilitated ex-captive orangutans. Transfer ‘unreleasable’ orangutans to the new Orangutan Haven Care for disabled or sick orangutans that cannot be released back to the wild. So you can see that the £300,000 will be very well spent and really help make a difference to orangutans (and a lot of other species living in the area who also call the forests home). Both organisations have done a great deal of work in the time they have been looking after orangutans and now they need to do more to help them.  The Tapanuli species of orangutan was only found in 2017. If we could get 60,000 people to donate £5 or its equivalent, that would hit the target! Visit the Orangutan Foundation’s website to find out more and donate.

    

2. International Orangutan Day 2020

   Posted on 8:00am Wednesday 19th Aug 2020

   The 19th August is International Orangutan Day and there are some very good ways in which you can help orangutans. Why?  Because the orangutan’s forest is being destroyed so that palm oil plantations can be created in their place. The Iceland advert was banned for being too political but it’s worth looking at because it shows exactly what we are doing to orangutan’s habitat. 1. Donate The Orangutan Foundation are looking to save 300 acres for orangutans and you can donate to help them do this here. The Orangutan Foundation International based in Australia is also looking for donations. 2. Change your buying habits The Orangutan Foundation International has information on palm oil and how to spot when it is in products you might buy. I’m doing this and looking to decrease my use of palm oil as much as possible. Look at your normal shopping list and then take a look at  Ethical Consumer’s guide to palm oil – they have a list of the worst offenders when it comes to palm oil.  If you currently buy from the list of worst offenders, you don’t have to go without – just swap them for another product made by a different company.

    

3. ZSL London Zoo helps Adriatic Lions in the Gir Forest

   Posted on 10:00am Monday 10th Aug 2020

   The majestic Asiatic lion once roamed across Asia and the Middle East and Asia. But, by the early 1900s, the species had suffered from hunting – so much so that only about 20 remained in Western India.  Today, numbers are increasing and now there are about 600 Asiatic lions in the Gir Forest.  The problem is that they are very vulnerable to forest fires and to disease. ZSL is working with the Wildlife Institute of India and the Gujarat Forest Department to ensure the wonderful Asiatic Lion has a future. 4 ways ZSL are helping Asiatic Lions in the Gir Forest Conservation support including training wildlife rangers and training them in using the SMART tool, which was developed by conservation organisations to establish effective patrolling systems, monitor wildlife populations and movements and identify threats such as poaching or disease Veterinary support – lions have got stuck down wells and come into conflict with people, and the ZSL staff have taught vets vital lifesaving techniques such as how to intubate anaesthetised lions to help them breathe Working with the Sakkarbaug Zoo where about 40 Asiatic Lions live – some have been injured too much to return to the wild or for other good reasons they live at the zoo. ZSL and the staff at the zoo share best practice and knowledge about the Asiatic Lions. Education is vital to engage local communities and help them appreciate the importance of lion conservation. Can I mention also the Lion Trust (who are specialist fund managers) who sponsor ZSL’s Asiatic Lions Campaign.  We need more businesses to get involved like this.  Thank you to the Lion Trust.  Find out more about the work ZSL is doing with Asiatic Lions here.

    

4. 29 July is Global Tiger Day! Pledge for Malayan tigers

   Posted on 9:55am Wednesday 29th Jul 2020

   The WWF Malaysia and Maybank are celebrating tigers from 29 July to 31 August 2020.  They are kicking the event off on Global Tiger Day (29th July) and finishes on Merdeka Day and the idea is to get us all to #KeepRoaring for the Malayan tiger. There are now fewer 200 Malayan tigers left.  And as WWF Malaysia point, out, we all need healthy forests - and forests need tigers.  #KeepRoaring to save Malayan tigers, save our forests, and save ourselves by taking action! They are us all to donate, to learn about tigers, to spread the word, and to pledge to save the Malayan tiger from extinction.  Pledge your support to make tigers a national priority so that decisions on policy, allocation of resources, enforcement and land management favourable for tiger conservation can be made and implemented. PLEDGE FOR TIGERS HERE

    

5. World Rainforest Day

   Posted on 11:00pm Sunday 21st Jun 2020

   Visit the World Rainforest Day's website The 22nd June is World Rainforests Day.  Rainforests are vital for life to survive on Earth. Yet every minute, 40 football fields of rainforest are lost.  This threatens our biodiversity and imperils earth’s health.  Natural climate solutions such as protecting and restoring forests could reverse global emissions by a third, according to World Rainforest Day. This day is held to celebrate rainforests and encourage us all to protect them.  If we can all unite and become a forest of action that rains on earth, then we can make a huge difference. The World Rainforest Day website has these things we can all do to make a positive impact on rainforests, today and every day: Ways to help rainforests Learn about rainforests and why they matter to each of us Donate to rainforest protectors Eat more plants and less meat Shop for rainforest friendly products Travel sustainably Hold leaders and corporations accountable Spread the word Host a safe, socially distant event There's more information about each of these positive actions we can take here   Find out more from World Rainforest Day’s website. #WorldRainforestDay #TakeABreath #ThankARainforest  #BecauseTheWorldCantWait #TheForgottenSolution  This infographic and others are available to download and share  from the World Rainforest Day's website