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SOS – Sumatran Orangutan Society

sandra — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:57:48 +0000

Sumatran Orangutan Society -

Their projects in Sumatra operate through the Orangutan Information Centre (SOS-OIC). They founded this organization in 2001 in collaboration with a group of dedicated Indonesian conservationists to raise awareness of environmental and orangutan conservation issues amongst local communities living in North Sumatra and Aceh.

As they say on their website: Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered.

Habitat loss and poaching are pushing them towards imminent extinction. Every minute, every day an area equal to six football fields of Indonesian forest disappears! I think you can agree that this is disgraceful and unacceptable.

Read SOS (Sumatran Orangutan Society) information on palm oil: http://www.orangutans-sos.org/orangutans/crisis and outline their campaign here: http://www.orangutans-sos.org/campaigns/palm_oil_and_biofuels

They have some great ideas on how to help here: http://www.orangutans-sos.org/help and here: http://www.orangutans-sos.org/help/other

You can also get involved in writing to Supermarkets and Manufacturers to ask them to source sustainable palm oil, instead of using the unsustainable supplies produced in Borneo and Sumatra – it is killing the Orangutans for our greed and materialism – see my campaign by CLICKING HERE

Reply from Marks and Spencer Re: palm oil use in their products

sandra — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:50:11 +0000

I now have a very prompt reply letter received from the Customer Service Department of Marks & Spencer regarding the palm oil used in many of their supermarket products…

Once again, I am disappointed that this ‘own brand’ supermarket did not list its products that contain palm oil. If I don’t know which they are then I cannot avoid them, so I will have to follow that up with them. It would be easy to do, as they only sell ‘own brand products’.

Secondly, they have not outlined a date properly, that they will be listing palm oil as a specific oil in the ingredients listings on products. And since blends of oils are labelled as the generic ‘vegetable oil’ this is not helpful at all. It is a shame, as I enjoy their products.

See it by clicking on the images:

marks and spencer palm oil reply page 1

marks and spencer palm oil reply page 2

However, their commitments to changing to sustainable palm oil are better than some Supermarkets, but, as with all of them, the target of 2015 for the changeover (which I note is only written as an ‘aim’ and not a promise) will, again, be too late for the saviour of the Orangutans – there certainly would not be many left at that time if the progression and use of unsustainable palm oil from Borneo and Sumatra continue at the current rate.

I think their work with the WWF is really good, and I am very pleased to see that they are rehabilitating an area for Orangutans the size of 50 football pitches. However, I think the thing we should not forget here is that, in Sumatra alone, the area of 6 football pitches PER MINUTE are being destroyed for palm plantations, so actually stopping the plantation and purchase of the palm oil in the first place will be much more helpful. Those statistics are for Sumatra alone, let alone the deforestation across Borneo, by the way!

As with virtually all Supermarkets and Manufacturers, I will, once again, have to be writing back to Marks and Spencer to gain the information I asked for!

You can help – why don’t you write some letters too? You can see mine by CLICKING HERE

To see my general comments on my palm oil campaign Supermarket/Manufacturer replies CLICK HERE

Sydney (Taronga Zoo), New South Wales, Australia

sandra — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:33:06 +0000

I visited this Zoo back in 1993, so it was a long time ago now, but my brother went this year (2009) and enjoyed it. When I was there, I was in awe of the two baby Orangutans they had then and spent much of my day admiring them, as they were in perfect view.
Taronga Zoo has two Orang-utans: male Jantan and female Willow. Their rainforest exhibit is a haven of cascading water and views of the harbour. A high tower at equal height with the Sky Safari cable car is Jantan’s favourite sitting spot. Please note: There is also a Taronga Western Plains Zoo, but this is different, and does not have Orangutans.http://www.zoo.nsw.gov.au/taronga-zoo/our-animals/view-by-continent/asia/orang-utan.aspx

http://www.zoo.nsw.gov.au/taronga-zoo.aspx
General Enquiries
PO Box 20
Bradleys Head Rd
Mosman NSW 2088
Ph: +61 2 9969 2777
Email: tz@zoo.nsw.gov.au

Fuengirola Zoo, Costa del Sol, Andalucia, Southern Spain

sandra — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 10:46:41 +0000

fuengirola family orangutans

I have visited this Zoo twice and it is my favourite in all that I have been to. It is beautifully set out, the animals are healthy and look happy enough. The orangutans consist of a male, female and baby (born in 2006) and they all live together in a very lovely large outside environment. Of course, the weather in Spain is lovely and warm all year round, so they get to be outside for much of the time, and just go in to sleep. A very lovely Zoo, with great ethics for their visitors – they do not have bars – so the whole Zoo is open and you can see the animals really well. It is well worth a visit!http://www.zoofuengirola.com/eng/index.php?s=especies&c=Mamiferos

http://www.zoofuengirola.com/eng/index.php
Avda. Camilo José Cela, 8-10
29640 Fuengirola
Málaga, Spain.
Tel: 952 666 301
Fax: 952 586 892

male orangutan at fuengirolaFuengirola zoo spainmale orangutan at fuengirola

mother and baby orangutanmale rolling aroundnew baby orangutan at fuengirola

Paignton Zoo, Devon, South West England

sandra — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 10:33:12 +0000

paignton zoo female orangutan copyright sandra m dean

They have Bornean Orangutans. I read that in December 2008, the male there made three of the females pregnant! But I am yet to confirm this.

I visited in April 2009, on the Saturday of the Easter weekend, so it was fairly busy, but the Zoo is so wonderfully spaced out with trees and paths in between many of the animal enclosures. They had four baby Sumatran Tigers when I was there, so that was lovely to see too. The Orangutans have a large enclosure inside, with climbing frames, which was clean, and it is easy to see the Orangutans when they are in there. Hopefully they have somewhere to hide too and have some privacy!

Outside, the Orangutans have a lovely Island to wander on, with trees to climb and climbing frames to play on. They all looked happy and it was nice to see that they interacted with each other.

See here: http://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/news-events/news-detail.php?id=117 http://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/animals/animals-details.php?id=14

www.paigntonzoo.org.uk
General enquiries
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park
Totnes Road
Paignton
Devon
TQ4 7EU

Telephone: 01803 697500
Fax: 01803 523457
Email: info@paigntonzoo.org.uk

Dublin Zoo

sandra — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 10:28:12 +0000

They hold Orangutans from Borneo, but I have not visited here yet.

http://www.dublinzoo.ie/inside.asp?pageId=100§ionId=3&level=2

www.dublinzoo.ie
info@dublinzoo.ie
t: ++ 353 (0)1 474 8900 | f: ++ 353 (0)1 677 1660

Durrel Wildlife Conservation Trust, Jersey, Channel Islands

sandra — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 10:26:06 +0000

This is called Durrel Wildlife Conservation TrustThis information is from their website – Our work in Jersey has a completely different focus from that of traditional zoos; the animals in Jersey are here as ambassadors for their species in the wild, they are here to help us all learn about them as well as ourselves. Today, more and more animals are becoming endangered, and Gerry’s dream of not having a need for a centre for championing endangered animals is sadly not to be realised in our lifetime.
Durrell has kept Sumatran orangutans since 1968 and between 1963 to 1990, also bred the Bornean species. Over the years, 7 valuable babies have been born here and some are now at other zoos continuing to make a valuable contribution to the breeding programme for their Critically Endangered species.
I have not been here yet, but plan to go asap!

http://www.durrell.org/Animals/Mammals/Sumatran-Orangutan

www.durrell.org
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Les Augrès Manor
La Profonde Rue
Trinity
Jersey, Channel Islands
JE3 5BP
Tel: +44 (0) 1534 860000
Fax: +44 (0)1534 860001

Chester Zoo, North England

sandra — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 10:20:40 +0000

Chester Zoo orangutan mother and baby

I visited this Zoo in May 2009 and was really impressed!

Unfortunately, I cannot find out the names of the orangutans there at the moment, but there are quite a few and the enclosure is huge (both inside and out) - a real show piece for the Zoo and it is interesting to note that the information there on orangutans and conservation for them is really good, since they run conservation projects with other charities. The rest of the Zoo is lovely too, with everything spaced out with pleasant greenery and paths and bridges to get everywhere – you can even take a boat trip or the monorail!

Chester Zoo orangutan

Chester Zoo orangutan enclosure

One of the females came up close to the window, and she looked really well, and all the others, plus many cute babies looked really content. It is well worth a trip and Chester is a lovely place for a weekend break, with restaurants & shops galore.

See info here about the Sumatran Orangutans – http://www.chesterzoo.org/AnimalsandPlants/Mammals/MonkeysandApes/Sumatran%20Orang-utan.aspx

See info here about the Bornean Orangutans -
http://www.chesterzoo.org/AnimalsandPlants/Mammals/MonkeysandApes/Bornean%20Orang-utan.aspx

There is a new baby at this Zoo, born in February 2009! See here: http://www.chesterzoo.org/Home/News/February%202009/Orang-utan%20birth.aspx

Chester Zoo orangutan enclosure

Chester Zoo orangutan youngster

Chester Zoo orangutan baby

Chester Zoo

Cedar House
Caughall Road
Upton-by-Chester
CHESTER
CH2 1LH
Tel 01244 380 280
Fax 01244 371 273
http://www.chesterzoo.org/Visit/MainAttractions/Realm%20of%20the%20Red%20Ape.aspx

Chester Zoo orangutan

Chester Zoo orangutan baby

Colchester Zoo, Colchester, Essex, England

sandra — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 10:13:58 +0000

This Zoo has been my local Zoo and frequented since I was a child. Rajang is the old male there (he will be 41 on the 14th June 2009!) and he is gorgeous – very sociable and inquisitive, and sadly Djambe died a few months ago in late 2008, due to a heart attack probably caused through the rupture of a very large ovarian cyst (the large mass discovered in her abdomen just a short while before). As this happened just after Rajang and Djambe were sedated to be moved to a new enclosure, I was very concerned and took up correspondence with the Zoo as to the investigations. I cannot see the point of all the play ropes and things that Rajang just will never play with but the new enclosure has plenty of room for viewing inside in the warm as well as a large outside area, so this is great for visitors.
Rajang is a Hybrid (cross between Sumatran and Bornean Orangutan) so he is unable to be part of the breeding programme for Orangutans within UK Zoos. Rajang will be 41 on the 14th June, 2009!
I will continue to visit the Zoo to see Rajang, and the rest of the large selection of animals are great to visit, so go and take a look and support the Zoo and Rajang in the process.

See info on the Orangutan, the new enclosure and Rajang here:
http://www.colchester-zoo.co.uk/index.cfm?fa=content.list&page=45§ion=6

www.colchester-zoo.co.uk

Colchester Zoo : Maldon Road : Stanway : Colchester : Essex : CO3 0SL
Telephone 01206 331292
Fax 01206 331392

Dudley Zoo, West Midlands, England

sandra — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 10:11:09 +0000

orangutan enclosure

(note, since this article, Dudley zoo have improved its Orangutan indoor enclosure – CLICK HERE to my Orangutn website to find out more) This Zoo based in Dudley, Midlands, right on a hill, so it has views over the Town. It is a bit rough around the edges, and some enclosures are really old. I was not impressed with the state of the Orangutan enclosure, which has all the Orangs (3 adults – one male and two females) there kept separately in very small indoor/outdoor enclosures, but they can go in and out as they please so they can have some privacy if they wish.

The outside areas are tiny too, with nothing of amusement for them whatsoever. Inside, the area is derelict where a walkthrough used to be in place for visitors, but now it is full of leaves and the windows to view the Orangutans filthy. So, you can only view them from the outside. I have been advised though, that the Orangutan enclosure is one of the next on the list for re-development and it will be phased over time. Some of the new enclosures for other animals are really nice, so I expect it will be worth the wait! I did a ‘keeper for the day’ there, which cost around £250 for two, which was really good, as we got to feed the young Orangutan milk and coconut, hand feed a lion, see up close a tiger, cuddle the Tapiers, feed the Lemurs and even flew an owl! I would recommend this day for anyone who would like to get up close to animals. Please visit and support the Orangutans!

The Zoo is in the centre of Town and is on a hill, so the views are pretty good from up there too!

www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/home.htm
Main Zoo Office
Tel 01384 215313
Fax 01384 456048
admin@dudleyzoo.org.uk
Dudley & West Midlands
Zoological Society
2 The Broadway
Dudley
West Midlands
DY1 4QB

young orangutanmale in his cage