... BECAUSE BEING AWARE IS NOT ENOUGH -
WE NEED TO CARE
AND CARE ENOUGH TO BE MOVED TO ACTION.
Thematic artwork and video clips about orangutans from international artists have won cash prizes to celebrate Orangutan Caring Week.
Santa Monica, CA - The Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) announced the winning entries of a graphic art and video clip contest held as a prelude to Orangutan Caring Week ( November 13-19, 2022). Promoted through OURF’s social media platforms, the contest ran from October 1st to November 1st and was open to graphic art and digital creatives from around the world. Cash prizes were offered for the top three entries in each category. Artists were asked to address this year’s Orangutan Caring Week (OCW) theme in their work, “Orangutan Superheroes Don’t Wear Capes.”
The entries were judged by a panel of artists enthusiasts including conservation wildlife artist Alexandra Saunders, watercolor artist Mary Lou Nicolai, and art curator Harvey Jordan. Criteria used to evaluate each entry included relevance to the theme, visual effectiveness/overall appearance, originality, and the message of the work.
The top-winning graphic artist, Tanuj Samaddar, from India, submitted a collage of concepts addressing this year’s theme in his artwork.
Tanuj explains in his message, “In the given artwork I've portrayed the unsung heroes who play an important role in ensuring the survival of orangutans. The forest rangers and wildlife experts and veterinarians have found a place in my artwork. Plenty of actions could be taken to save orangutans including but not limited to donations to wildlife charities etc. Our actions should embody sustainability and commitment to our goal of conserving orangutans. My artwork is dedicated to those heroes without capes who tirelessly work to care for, protect and save the orangutan population.”
Second place in the graphic art category was won by Patricia Gabe Ratum from Indonesia. Patricia’s skills as an artist and video clip creator earned her 2nd place in the video contest as well. For her graphic art entry, she also produced a collage of concepts that addressed the theme.
Patricia provided the following message about the items in her work, “Everybody has their role to contribute in preserving orangutans and forests. Preserving them means preserving life. Little deeds matter such as having a sustainable living. We can also educate ourselves about our ecosystem and donate to orangutan activism. When shopping, look for the RSPO and FSC stamps to make sure that the product doesn't harm the forest and its endemics. We can do more local shopping. It helps the local economy and it has a lower carbon footprint. Speak up about nature conservation and the relevant policies. No capes are needed to be their heroes. It starts with each of us!”
The third place for graphic art was awarded to Mahdiyyah Ardhina from Indonesia. Her art features a scene of children being educated about orangutans and tree planting while an orangutan mother and baby watch from the tree top.
Mahdiyyah commented about her artwork, “My work tells us that protecting orangutans and their habitat does not have to be in full uniform and armed to ward off conservation criminals. Maybe the criminals did not know that what they were doing was wrong because they had not been educated in conservation as children. We can keep orangutans in our minds, transmitting stories with simple materials so that conservation ideas can penetrate into children's minds. That way the younger generation can grow and take control of the world with an awareness of the balance of ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity. It's time for those of us who are aware and knowledgeable to continue to spread positive messages as a step to bring up the superhero soul without having to have superpowers.”
Video Clip winners
Our video artists were given 30 seconds to tell their message. Most of the submissions addressed the OCW theme.
First place was awarded to Dita Shofatul Habibah from Indonesia. Dita’s video can be viewed on OURF’s YouTube channel. In her short but effective video, she shows how everyone can be educators to teach children, teenagers, and adults about orangutans and their plight.
Dita's message, “Being a hero for orangutans is not difficult, everyone has the same opportunity to be a hero for orangutans. Starting from small things such as sharing experiences and knowledge about Orangutans with everyone, from children to adults. Everyone can take the opportunity to be a hero for orangutans, with the little things we do, no matter how small will definitely have a good impact on the sustainability of Orangutans in the future”.
Second place in the video clip category went to Patricia Gabe Ratu who also won 2nd place for graphic art. Patricia’s video entry called attention to the indigenous peoples of Borneo who are the stewards of the forest and real superheroes without capes. You can view her video clip on OURF’s YouTube channel.
Patricia’s accompanying message with her video states, “The indigenous people have been living in harmony with nature for decades. They respect the forests as their home, a gift from their ancestors. They're committed to protecting the plants and the animals inside. So they take from the forest just as little as their daily needs, they even make rules among their tribes and take a stand against companies so nobody over exploits the forest. For me, they are the real stewards of the land, rainforest, and animals including the orangutans, our real heroes who need no capes.”
Third place in the video category went to Ahmad Fauzi Daulay, also from Indonesia for his submission, “Orangutan the Guardians of the Forest.”. The judges liked the message of this video that put the orangutan as the superhero. You can view Ahmad’s video clip on OURF’s YouTube channel.
Ahmad explains his reason for making the orangutan the hero of the story, “For most people, of course, often see superhero characters in fiction stories and even in movies. The essence of a superhero in their eyes is one who has super strength and wears his capes. However, in the real world, there are still superheroes who are not known to many people. With that in mind, through this short video, I would like to inform you that orangutans are superheroes who have played a very important role in the preservation of nature, especially in the balance of the ecosystem. Now their biggest enemy is human greed. However, orangutans deserve to be pinned as superheroes and guardians of the forest without the capes, which we all must protect together”.
The contest winners will be receiving cash prizes: $500 for 1st place, $250 for 2nd place, and $100 for 3rd place. The other entries were also very good and the artists will be acknowledged for their efforts. OURF may use the images and videos for social media and other educational projects. The creative expressions of these artists, most of them from Indonesia, will help inspire and educate a young generation to take notice and care for the orangutans and other wildlife.
The winning art and videos will be shared and discussed at OURF’s No Fuss Fundraiser held via Zoom on November 19th (5-8 pm PST). Tickets are still available at https://tinyurl.com/no-fuss-fundraiser. Proceeds support OURF’s mission of saving wild orangutans through education initiatives that call people to action.
For more information, visit www.orangutanrepublik.org
or contact OURF 2022 Art/Video Contest at info@OrangUtanRepublik.org
-- END --
“Respecting nature to save orangutans, biodiversity & our collective future.”
Orangutans are only found in the wild on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in the countries of Indonesia and Malaysia (N. Borneo). Fewer than 14,600 individuals remain in Sumatra. Their population continues to decline due to the conversion of forest to agriculture, the illegal pet trade, being killed as pests or hunted, as well as habitat degradation from natural and human-caused activities, i.e., fires, mining, logging, palm oil, and major infrastructure projects.
In an effort to bring attention to critically endangered species, the idea of a special week for orangutans was created.
Orangutan Caring Week is a global event held every November. It began in 2004 as Orangutan Awareness Week but it soon became apparent that just being aware of the plight of orangutans was not enough. If we teach the world to CARE about orangutans it would lead to people demanding more be done to save the species. Therefore each year a different theme is selected to bring attention to the challenges faced by the critically endangered orangutan and their rainforest home. This year's theme is “Respecting nature to save orangutans, biodiversity & our collective future.”
All life on earth depends on a healthy planet! Rainforests and related ecosystems provide important services from climate moderation, to water quality and erosion control, to storehouses of genetic, species, and ecological biodiversity. Rainforests need to be sustainably managed to maintain these services. Orangutan Caring Week helps to inform citizens in their own communities of this connection and continues to enlighten and inspire local people in areas near orangutan habitats.
“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world. All living creatures need other creatures and plants in one way or another - even if the connection is not so clear.” (Young People’s Trust for the Environment, “Why do we need to conserve biodiversity?” https://tinyurl.com/yxgebzve)
Orangutans live in total harmony with nature - people do not - but we need nature for our very existence. We are already facing a climate crisis and a mass extinction threatening the very existence of thousands of animals and plant species, as well as threatening human populations, and the urgency of action has never been more important. These intelligent, sentient beings have lived in perfect harmony with nature for millions of years, yet due to human activity their populations have declined by more than half over the past 60 years, and their habitat has been reduced by at least 55% over just the past 20 years. If we do not collectively act now the threat of extinction will become a reality.
By saving orangutans, we save ourselves and our life-sustaining environment. If we can protect and save these close evolutionary cousins and their rainforest homes, it would mean we are making the necessary changes to possibly protect all life on earth. We see hope in this week's COP26 conference which is uniting the world to tackle climate change.
What is being done? There are over 65 hardworking, dedicated organizations, conservation groups, rescue, and rehabilitation centers all working to save these incredible great apes that are supportive of Orangutan Caring Week. Respecting the rights of orangutans to co-exist with humans is essential if we are to save them for the long term. While orangutans are unable to speak out to defend themselves, orangutan advocacy groups will continue to give voices to orangutans and their rights as critically endangered species and as individual sentient beings.
Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) President Dr. Gary Shapiro, encourages everyone to participate in ways that are achievable and meaningful. "It is important that we enroll the public to better understand the challenges facing one of our closest primate cousins and to give them ways to participate in sustainable actions while there still is time," said Shapiro. "Financially supporting nonprofit organizations working on the frontlines, visiting orangutan viewing areas as ecotourists, and making smart choices as everyday shoppers to avoid conflict commodities are some of the actions we can take that will positively contribute to a sustainable future for the orangutan."
You too can make a difference! Show you care by joining in this truly special campaign. Help spread the word on social media. Talk to people you know and encourage them to learn more. Hold a fundraiser or bake sale for your favorite orangutan organization. Find more ways to help at: https://orangutancaringweek.org/pages/help
During the last day of Orangutan Caring Week, the Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF), who is commemorating its 17th year of educating people about the plight of the orangutan, and with the support of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia, will present the 8th Annual Pongo Environmental Awards and Benefit at the Indonesian Consulate in Los Angeles. The November 13th event will be an opportunity for OURF supporters and guests to learn more about the work of the Foundation and the beautiful country of Indonesia as well as enjoy music and entertainment as we honor individuals and organizations who have made significant environmental achievements as recognized by OURF. Attendees will be able to enjoy Indonesian cuisine and bid on items and experiences offered on our online Silent Auction. The online Silent Auction will start on November 6th and will close during the Gala event. The auction is open to the public in the United States at www.tinyurl.com/pongoauction The presentation portion of the evening will be Livestreamed so others can watch and enjoy the Pongo Awards globally. Details can be found here pongoawards.org/.
Together We Can Make a Difference
About Orang Utan Republik Foundation The Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) (www.orangutanrepublik.org) is a 501(c)(3) publicly supported charity with a mission to save wild orangutans through education initiatives and innovative, collaborative projects. It also serves as the US chapter of The Orangutan Project expanding its reach and support to over a dozen orangutan support organizations in Indonesia and Malaysia ( www.theorangutanproject.org ) Gary L Shapiro Orang Utan Republik Foundation, Inc. +1 310-401-6602
Orangutan Caring Week is a worldwide event held annually every November. It began as Orangutan Awareness Week but it soon became apparent that just being aware of the plight of orangutans was not enough. People need to care...and care enough to be moved to action to save these incredible red-haired apes and their rainforest homes.
Rainforests and related ecosystems provide important services from climate moderation, to water quality and erosion control, to storehouses of genetic, species and ecological biodiversity. Rainforests need to be sustainably managed to maintain these services. Orangutan Caring Week helps to inform citizens in our own communities of this connection and continues to enlighten local people in areas near orangutan habitat.
This year's theme: "PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY FOR A HEALTHY PLANET"
A very appropriate theme has been chosen for Orangutan Caring Week this year as the COVID-19 pandemic
has heightened our understanding of how our health and that of the planet are linked to maintaining and
respecting biodiversity in all forms. All life on earth depends on a healthy planet! Many groups will be
joining us once again so watch for activities and postings about our annual weeklong celebration of the
great red ape on our social media.
“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world. All living
creatures need other creatures and plants in one way or another - even if the connection is not
so clear.”
(Young People’s Trust for the Environment,“Why do we need to conserve biodiversity?” )
Although the COVID-19 virus has not yet been observed in great apes in the wild, there is abundant scientific evidence showing that our closest living relatives are susceptible to diseases transmitted by humans.
"Scientists fear that the virus, which is thought to have originated in bats and jumped to humans,
could just as easily jump to great apes — gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans — which share
97 to 99 percent of their DNA with people. If the virus were to infect even one wild ape,
experts fear it could spread unchecked and wipe out an entire population. There would be no way to stop
it in the wild."(Richard C. Paddock, "Virus Delays Orangutans’ Long Awaited Return Home,"
New York Times, May 6, 2020, https://tinyurl.com/y9efhpyf)
The combined impacts of habitat loss, habitat degradation, illegal hunting, and an illegal pet trade,
have pushed the orangutan toward an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild and now they face a
new possible threat of a disease that can potentially add to that risk.
"We are worried about this and are taking it very seriously,” said Ian Singleton, director of the
Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program. “If it happens, it will be a catastrophe."
Orangutan rescue and rehabilitation centers are taking every precaution to protect orangutans in their care, as well as, protecting staff and caretakers from possible transmission of the coronavirus, but expenses are high, and they are facing extra challenges in these difficult times. With revenues down they are dealing with added expenses for food, gowns, gloves, testing, as well as other medical and cleaning supplies directly needed due to the pandemic.
Centers are still taking in rescues yet they are not able to release captive orangutans that are ready to be reintroduced back in to the wild for fear of spreading the virus to wild populations further challenging already limited space situations.
Orangutans live in total harmony with nature - people do not - but we need nature for our very existence. We are already facing a climate crisis and a mass extinction threatening the very existence of thousands of animals and plant species, as well as threatening human populations, and the urgency of action has never been more important. These intelligent, sentient beings have lived in perfect harmony with nature for millions of years yet due to human activity their populations have declined by more than half over the past 60 years, and their habitat has been reduced by at least 55% over just the past 20 years.
To contain this virus and to stop the next pandemic, we need to start protecting wildlife habitats. S ome of the deadliest new diseases, including COVID-19, Ebola, SARS, and HIV, have all arisen when man has crossed the natural barriers between human and animal populations. It is imperative that we afford critically endangered species their right to safe, thriving habitats unbothered by human encroachment and interference.
“Protecting nature is our first, best, and most cost-effective line of defense against future
pandemics.
(Sahir Doshi and Nicole Gentile, “When Confronting a Pandemic, We Must Save Nature to Save Ourselves,”
Center for American Progress, April 20, 2020, https://tinyurl.com/y2gp6vrt)
By saving orangutans, we save ourselves and our life sustaining environment. If we can protect and save this closest of evolutionary cousins and their rainforest homes, it would mean we are making the necessary changes to possibly protect all life on earth.
So, who cares? There are dozens of hardworking, dedicated organizations, conservation groups, rescue and rehabilitation centers all working to save these incredible great apes.
We cannot all have boots on the ground, but we can fully support those who do whether financially or with our time and efforts. Many of these groups, along with zoos and animal facilities worldwide, as well as individuals, will be participating in Orangutan Caring Week with special social media campaigns, awareness and fundraising events using this as a perfect opportunity to spread awareness about the plight of orangutans and the urgent dangers facing their rainforest homes with the goal of motivating people to care – and to care enough to be moved to action. If ever there was a time to care, that time is now!
For more information:
Contact: Holly Draluck
Event coordinator
Email: holly@orangaware.org
Website: http://orangutancaringweek.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldOrangutanEvents
At a time when we see little or no respect given even for each other, how do we get people to see how important it is to respect the rights of critically endangered species to exist? How, when man is not even driven to immediate action to reverse climate crisis tipping points to preserve their own futures, do we encourage action to save orangutans and their rainforest homes? It is a challenge!
Orangutan Caring Week is Nov. 10-16 and this year's theme is Respecting the Rights of Critically Endangered Species. It is a worldwide event held annually every November which began as Orangutan “Awareness” Week in 1995, but it soon became apparent that just being aware of the plight of orangutans was not enough. People needed to care and care enough to be moved to action to save these incredible red-haired apes and their rainforest homes.
Respecting the Rights of Critically Endangered Species
Each and every animal on earth has as much right to be here as you and I do - maybe even more so. It is
imperative that we respect the rights of critically endangered species and their right to safe,
thriving habitats unbothered by human encroachment and interference. The clear fact is that we must
prioritize the preservation of rainforests and important species like orangutans for our own survival,
but should the survival of man be the primary motivating factor to save them? Don't orangutans deserve
the right to exist and survive on their own merits? Of course, they do!
Orangutans are intelligent, sentient beings that have lived in perfect harmony with nature for millions of years yet, due to human activity, their populations have declined by more than half over the past 60 years, and their habitat has been reduced by at least 55% over just the past 20 years.
We need nature for our very existence and only by saving nature do we save ourselves yet, we continue to destroy critical rainforest habitat and push hundreds of species ever closer to extinction. Rainforests and related ecosystems provide important services from the air we breathe, to climate moderation, to water quality and erosion control, to existing as storehouses of genetic and ecological biodiversity. Rainforests need to be sustainably managed to maintain these life-giving services.
The orangutan's intrinsic value is so precious that it cannot be measured in dollars. If we were to assign a true value to orangutans and the rainforest, we could in no way afford the exploited products that come at the high price of extinction. There would be no affording the timber or palm oil or minerals. There would be no profit for the corrupt officials and greedy corporations.
The combined impacts of habitat loss for timber and palm oil plantations, habitat degradation, illegal hunting, and an illegal wildlife trade have pushed the orangutan toward an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, yet they live in total harmony with nature, people do not. With the climate crisis and a mass extinction threatening the very existence of thousands of animals and plant species - as well as threatening human populations - the urgency of action has never been more important. Richard Zimmerman, Founding Director of Orangutan Outreach, shared this urgency stating, "Orangutans are critically endangered in the wild and we need to help them NOW! Extinction is forever!”
Sadly, Orangutan Caring Week can easily become just another one of many in a long string of forgettable special awareness days dedicated to yet another endangered species which shows up as a fleeting post or picture that we scroll past on our Facebook and Twitter feeds, rarely moving us to much more action than a 'like', share or re-post. We are on crisis and issue overload with climate change, plastic, and politics. Saving orangutans to some may seem trivial in comparison. It is not.
We are often bombarded with incomprehensible and hard to grasp facts about how many orangutans are left in the wild, how many years they have left before they go extinct, or how many hectares or football fields of their rainforest homes are cut down each minute of every day. We see heartbreaking photos of orphans, mutilated, tortured or abused orangutans and pictures of devastated rain forests and may feel powerless to do anything about it.
Suffice it to say, orangutans are in critical danger, but so are hundreds of living beings. Scientists estimate that between 150-200 species of plant, insect, bird and mammal become extinct every 24 hours, so why should we especially care about orangutans? There are hundreds of species that deserve our attention but by saving these incredible apes we can save not only orangutans, but all the species on earth - including man.
Truly saving orangutans and safeguarding their futures would mean that we have finally made all the necessary adjustments to our selfish, greedy, and excessive consumptive practices that are ruining our Earth's precious ecosystems and would mean that we are taking seriously our personal impact on all life on our planet. As individuals, we need to make the impact on the political and corporate machines and demand transformation or there will be no hope for orangutans and, in turn, no future for man.
Why care about orangutans? By saving orangutans, we save ourselves and our planet. If we can protect and save this closest of evolutionary cousins of ours and protect their rainforest homes, it would mean we are making the necessary changes to possibly protect all life on earth.
Orangutans are critically endangered and may be the first great ape to go extinct. They share 97% of our DNA and, as one of our closest relatives, it is our responsibility to protect these intelligent, gentle apes. With each passing species, the Earth becomes a little less whole. A world without orangutans will lose much of its soul.
"It can be difficult sometimes for people to see the similarities between humans and orangutans," says Leif Cocks, Founder of The Orangutan Project. "I've spent the majority of my life with these great apes and witnessed their humanity many times. Orangutans have cognitive thoughts and have as much humanity as you or me, sometimes more so. They have some of the most beautiful souls you'll ever come across."
Saving orangutans also helps to save many other endangered species that live in the same forest, like tigers, elephants, rhinos, gibbons, sun bears, clouded leopards and countless other species of plants and animals.
So, who cares? Well, there are dozens of hardworking, dedicated organizations, conservation groups, rescue and rehabilitation centers all working to save these incredible great apes. Gary Shapiro, President of Orang Utan Republik Foundation expressed that, “Respecting the rights of orangutans to co-exist with humans is essential if we are to save them for the long term. While orangutans are unable to speak out to defend themselves, orangutan advocacy groups will continue to give voice to orangutans and their rights as critically endangered species and as individual sentient beings."
We cannot all have boots on the ground, but we can fully support those who do whether financially
or with our time and efforts. Many of these groups, along with zoos and animal facilities worldwide,
as well as individuals, will be participating in Orangutan Caring Week with special social media
campaigns, awareness and fundraising events using this as a perfect opportunity to spread awareness
about the plight of orangutans and the urgent dangers facing their rainforest homes with the goal of
motivating people to care – and to care enough to be moved to action. If ever there was a time to care,
that time is now!
For more information:
Contact: Holly Draluck
Event coordinator
Email: holly@orangaware.org
Website: http://orangutancaringweek.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldOrangutanEvents
#OrangutanCaringWeek #OCW
Orangutan Caring Week (OCW) is Nov. 11-17. This year's theme is "Valuing Orangutans over Profits to Avoid Extinction" but apparently, orangutans are not worth very much in the eyes of those who are destroying their rainforest homes and pushing them ever closer to extinction.
The orangutan's intrinsic value is so precious that it cannot be measured in dollars. If we were to assign a true value to orangutans and the rainforest, we could in no way afford the exploited products that come at the high price of extinction. There would be no affording the timber or palm oil or minerals or the pets. There would be no profit for the corrupt officials and greedy corporations.
Sadly, OCW can become just another one of many in a long string of forgettable special awareness days dedicated to yet another endangered species showing up as a fleeting post or picture that we scroll past on our Facebook and Twitter feeds, rarely moving us to much more action than a 'like', share or re-post.
We are often given incomprehensible and hard to grasp facts about how many orangutans are left in the wild, how many years they have left before they go extinct, or how many hectares or football fields of their rainforest homes are cut down each minute of every day. We see heartbreaking photos of orphans, mutilated, tortured or abused orangutans and pictures of devastated rain forests which can cause us to succumb to feelings of helplessness and an inability to enact any change.
Suffice it to say, orangutans are in critical danger, but so are hundreds of living things. Scientists estimate that between 150-200 species of plant, insect, bird and mammal become extinct every 24 hours, so why should we especially care about orangutans? There are hundreds of species that deserve our attention but by saving these incredible apes we can save not only orangutans, but all the species on earth - including man.
If we can save orangutans, we can save the world!
The Animals of the planet are in desperate peril.
Without free animal life we will lose the spiritual equivalent of oxygen.
- Alice Walker
Truly saving orangutans and safeguarding their futures would mean that we have finally made all the necessary adjustments to our selfish, greedy, and excessive consumptive practices that are ruining our Earth's precious ecosystems and would mean that we are taking seriously our personal impact on all life on our planet. As individuals, we need to make the impact on the political and corporate machines and demand transformation or there will be no hope for orangutans and, in turn, no future for man.
Orangutans are critically endangered and may be the first great ape to go extinct. They share 97% of our DNA and, as one of our closest evolutionary cousins, it is our responsibility to protect these intelligent, gentle apes. With each passing species, the Earth becomes a little less whole. A world without orangutans will lose much of its soul.
Saving orangutans also helps to save many other endangered species that live in the same forest, like tigers, rhinos, gibbons, sun bears, clouded leopards and countless other species of plants and animals.
Habitat loss due to rainforest destruction, illegal logging, palm oil plantations, and an illegal pet trade are pushing orangutans toward extinction. Rainforests play a vital role in the health of our planet. The habitat of the orangutan, the tropical rain forest, is vital to not only orangutans but to other wildlife and to all of us on this planet. Rainforests and related ecosystems provide important services from climate moderation, to water quality and erosion control, to storehouses of genetic species and ecological biodiversity. By saving these beautiful red-haired apes it would mean that we are able to make the necessary changes to our own global environmental impact through the products we buy and choices we make in time to save not only orangutans but all the species on earth - including man.
It is not enough to just be aware of the issues. We must also care, and care enough to be moved to action. Each November, Orangutan Caring Week focuses attention on the plight of orangutans in hopes of spreading awareness and motivating people to truly care.
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot
nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
So, who cares? There are dozens of hardworking, dedicated organizations, conservation groups, rescue and rehab centers all working to save these incredible great apes. We cannot all have boots on the ground, but we can fully support those who do whether financially or with our time and efforts. Many of these groups, along with zoos and animal facilities worldwide, will be participating in Orangutan Caring Week next week with special social media campaigns, awareness and fundraising events – but there are many ways individuals can participate, as well.
If ever there was a time to care, that time is now!
For more information:
Contact: Holly Draluck
Event coordinator
Email: holly@orangaware.org
Website: http://orangutancaringweek.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldOrangutanEvents
ORANGUTAN CARING WEEK (OCW) is a worldwide event held annually every November. It began many years ago as "Orangutan Awareness Week" but it soon became apparent that just being aware of the plight of orangutans was not enough. People need to care — and care enough to be moved to action to save these incredible red-haired apes and their rainforest homes.
Orangutans, the only great ape naturally found in the forests of Southeast Asia, face an uncertain future. The combined impacts of habitat loss, habitat degradation, and illegal hunting have pushed both the Bornean and Sumatran orangutan toward an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Both species have been declared as critically endangered according to the IUCN's Red List of endangered species with current population trends decreasing. (International Union for Conservation of Nature www.iucnredlist.org). There are currently hundreds of orphaned and displaced orangutans being cared for in rescue and rehabilitation centers across Borneo and Sumatra with suitable and safe habitat for release becoming increasingly difficult to come by.
Concern and resolve through activities and initiatives that go beyond mere talk are needed. Orangutan Caring Week is the perfect time to help people learn about the wonderful world of orangutans and their rainforest habitat with hopes of encouraging people to care enough to be moved to action so that they might be saved.
In 2005, Orangutan Caring Week (OCW) was established by the non-profit Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) to draw attention to the species and its plight as well as to provide people an opportunity to take action and to care about the future of orangutans. It also gives orangutan conservation and zoological organizations opportunities to discuss their programs with the media and at schools and other institutions. The theme for OCW this year is "Act Now to Preserve the Future". The theme drives home the need for organizations and people to get together and to harness limited resources to implement conservation solutions for the betterment of the species, which is on the brink of extinction. That would include acquiring and managing large tracks of forests as conservation concessions.
OCW is being coordinated by the consortium, World Orangutan Events, and is supported by dozens of organizations worldwide.OURF President Dr. Gary Shapiro encourages everyone to participate in ways that are informative, inspiring and engaging. "It is important that we enroll the public to better understand the challenges facing one of our closest primate cousins and to give them ways to participate in sustainable solutions while there still is time" said Shapiro. Thousands of orangutans have perished due to massive deforestation, fires, killing as pests, illegal hunting, and poaching for the illegal pet trade. Conservationists and wildlife managers continue to struggle to manage the growing number of orphaned, confiscated, and ex-captive animals in rescue and rehabilitation centers while working to secure forested areas for reintroduction and to insure the remaining populations of wild orangutans have adequate habitat for the foreseeable future.
Events are being planned in countries around the world. Zoos in Europe and the USA, nonprofits in Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia, and many others are hosting events and social media campaigns to raise awareness and promote action on behalf of the orangutan.
Orangutan Caring Week event coordinator, Holly Draluck, would like people to come to understand that the habitat of the orangutan, the tropical rain forest, is vital to not only orangutans but to other wildlife and to all of us on this planet. Rainforests and related ecosystems provide important services from climate moderation, to water quality and erosion control, to storehouses of genetic, species and ecological biodiversity. The international awareness event, Orangutan Caring Week, gives us the opportunity to inform citizens in our own communities of this connection and continue to enlighten local people in areas near orangutan habitat. Holly says, "If we can save orangutans, we can save the world!" By saving these beautiful red-haired apes it would mean that we are able to make the necessary changes to our own global environmental impact through the products we buy and the choices we make in time to save not only orangutans but all the species on earth - including man".
For more information about Orangutan Caring Week, the activities being scheduled, and what people can do to participate, visit To schedule an interview with a member of the World Orangutan Events, go to http://www.orangutancaringweek.com/Contact-Us.php.
Contact
Holly Draluck
Orangutan Caring Week
Holly@orangaware.org