Orangutans in danger of being wiped out by palm oil industry - Video

To be honest apathy seems to be the general response to this problem. l recently had an Orang-utan Awareness Day here in Picton N.S.W. and after been advertised and promoted over a large area hardly anyone turned up. Left out of pocket at least $2,000 l only raised $1,600 towards the rescue and rehabilitation of these animals. So if anyone has any ideas to what could help these poor bastards please let me know because lndonesia and Australia along with so many "animal groups" do not seem overly concerned about what is happening due to de-forestation in lndonesia and Papua. For Gods sake how bad do things have to get before it dawns on this so called "intelligent species" (the humans) and l use the word loosely as to what is happening so that we all so we can have chocolates, shampoo and other luxeries and at what cost to the enviroment? Remember, "No lungs = No Life.

Further to the requests for ways in which to assist with the terrible plight of the orangutans: the Sumatran Orangutan Society (see http://www.orangutans-sos.org for more details)are a conservation charity. We are currently based in several countries, although our NZ branch is technically dormant until January, when I will be returning and taking over the reigns. We will be looking for people to help out with fundraising as well as membership, and our funds raised go towards rehabilitation of orangutans, coupled with fighting palm oil & educating Indonesians away from damaging activities. We work in conjunction with other orangutan conservation groups, we can no longer afford to stand alone on these issues, so helping one group will help the species, and other animals. Choose carefully- ask your retailers where they get their palm oil from, write letters, raise money. Please, do what you can.

As you introduced the orangutan item you said we would be told what we could do to help their plight - but no such advice was included in the clip. Can you please remedy this? Thank you.

Good article, thanks. I am a concerned Wellingtonian who heard a radio interview with one of the AK primate keepers on National Programme recently, and I came to realise about the ramifications of palm oil cultivation. I have tried to spread the word & no one is taking me seriously (no time/too busy to dwell on matter! etc). I don't think you mentioned the AK Zoo's Anti-Palm Oil programme? or that it is Orangutan Caring Week (7 - 14 November 2009)?? (http://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/default.asp?sectionID=420) The Zoo Keepers have personally gone to extensive research to provide an online list of Palm Oil Free Products for consumers to make more informed decisions when shopping, as well as providing a list of the alternative names for Palm Oil. PLEASE PROMOTE THIS ON YOUR PROGRAMME TOMORROW AS A FOLLOW UP!!!! ALSO there is an online petition to lobby the Food Standards Authority New Zealand to make pass legislation obliging manufacturers to label their products as clearly containing "Palm Oil". Only about 358 people have signed it and the zoo is aiming for 100,000. PLEASE PROMOTE. I implore you. I feel I do dam all for the environment and want to help in some way, and if I can help to spread the word and start not buying products with Palm Oil then all the better. Thank you, Jacquiline Cooke

Good article, thanks. I am a concerned Wellingtonian who heard a radio interview with one of the AK primate keepers on National Programme recently, and I came to realise about the ramifications of palm oil cultivation. I have tried to spread the word & no one is taking me seriously (no time/too busy to dwell on matter! etc). I don't think you mentioned the AK Zoo's Anti-Palm Oil programme? or that it is Orangutan Caring Week (7 - 14 November 2009)?? (http://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/default.asp?sectionID=420) The Zoo Keepers have personally gone to extensive research to provide an online list of Palm Oil Free Products for consumers to make more informed decisions when shopping, as well as providing a list of the alternative names for Palm Oil. PLEASE PROMOTE THIS ON YOUR PROGRAMME TOMORROW AS A FOLLOW UP!!!! ALSO there is an online petition to lobby the Food Standards Authority New Zealand to make pass legislation obliging manufacturers to label their products as clearly containing "Palm Oil". Only about 358 people have signed it and the zoo is aiming for 100,000. PLEASE PROMOTE. I implore you. I feel I do dam all for the environment and want to help in some way, and if I can help to spread the word and start not buying products with Palm Oil then all the better. Thank you, Jacquiline Cooke