Here is yet another interesting article with regard to palm oil and great ape survival. Please note, though, that when Dr. Leakey gives a time period of 100 - 200 years for the great apes to reach extinction, he is lumping all the ape genera together. Individually, the time table is much shorter.
In addition to this article, there are a number of links to prior related articles.
Great apes 'facing climate peril'
BBC News, May 30, 2007
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/scripts/external.php?link=7230
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Some Things to Know about Palm Oil
One of ACE's missions is to educate the public about issues that affect great ape survival. A serious threat to orangutans and their habitat is palm oil production. Palm oil is made from the fruit pulp or seed kernels of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). Because of the recent health issues attributed to trans-fats, palm oil (a saturated fat) is being used as a replacement because it solidifies (without hydrogenation) when it is removed from its natural tropical climate.
Palm oil is ubiquitous; it is found in commercially baked goods, household products, soaps, lotions, makeup and even chocolate (oh! say it isn't so!!!).
Palm oil plantations often use slash and burn clearing methods to prepare new land for planting. As the demand for palm oil increases, plantation owners seek to expand their land holdings, further destroying forests and their inhabitants. Indonesia and Malaysia are top exporters of palm oil; Indonesia and Malaysia are the only places on earth that orangutans can be found in the wild.
This issue requires a solution more complex than merely calling for a boycott of all products containing palm oil. Firstly, the use of palm oil is too widespread for a ban to be plausible. Secondly, for many Indonesians and Malaysians, harvesting this product is the only source of income. Instead, ACE urges everyone to become informed consumers. Check product labels and try to purchase items without palm oil whenever possible; however, when this is not feasible, contact the companies and ask them if their palm oil is from a sustainable yield source. You can help create a conprehensive list for others to access by sending the information you obtain to palmoil@cmzoo.org
Staff at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo have designed a wonderful site to help consumers become proactive, informed and concientious. Here is the link: www.cmzoo.org\palmoil.html
And, here is a very recent article about palm oil and its effects on orangutan populations:
Palm oil puts squeeze on Asia's endangered orangutan
Reuters, May 28, 2007
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/scripts/external.php?link=7226
Palm oil is ubiquitous; it is found in commercially baked goods, household products, soaps, lotions, makeup and even chocolate (oh! say it isn't so!!!).
Palm oil plantations often use slash and burn clearing methods to prepare new land for planting. As the demand for palm oil increases, plantation owners seek to expand their land holdings, further destroying forests and their inhabitants. Indonesia and Malaysia are top exporters of palm oil; Indonesia and Malaysia are the only places on earth that orangutans can be found in the wild.
This issue requires a solution more complex than merely calling for a boycott of all products containing palm oil. Firstly, the use of palm oil is too widespread for a ban to be plausible. Secondly, for many Indonesians and Malaysians, harvesting this product is the only source of income. Instead, ACE urges everyone to become informed consumers. Check product labels and try to purchase items without palm oil whenever possible; however, when this is not feasible, contact the companies and ask them if their palm oil is from a sustainable yield source. You can help create a conprehensive list for others to access by sending the information you obtain to palmoil@cmzoo.org
Staff at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo have designed a wonderful site to help consumers become proactive, informed and concientious. Here is the link: www.cmzoo.org\palmoil.html
And, here is a very recent article about palm oil and its effects on orangutan populations:
Palm oil puts squeeze on Asia's endangered orangutan
Reuters, May 28, 2007
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/scripts/external.php?link=7226
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Moritorium on Breeding for Research
U.S. stops breeding chimps for research
Reuters, May 24, 2007
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/scripts/external.php?link=7225
Reuters, May 24, 2007
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/scripts/external.php?link=7225
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Orangutan Diary
"Orangutan Diary" will be airing on Animal Planet on June 10th, featuring the work of Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Center
Here's a link to showtimes:
http://animal.discovery.com/tv-schedules/special.html?paid=15.15172.116984.0.0
Here's a link to showtimes:
http://animal.discovery.com/tv-schedules/special.html?paid=15.15172.116984.0.0
Recently in the Media
Here are a few links to stories recently in the news...
Orangutans attend "jungle school" (rehabilitating orphaned orangutans)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=455397&in_page_id=1811
DR Congo rebel threat to gorillas
BBC News, May 21, 2007
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/scripts/external.php?link=7185
Uganda: Chimpanzees in Danger From Population
New Vision, Uganda, May 20, 2007
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/scripts/external.php?link=7189
Orangutans face bleak struggle to survive
Austin American-Statesman, May 13, 2007
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/scripts/external.php?link=7174
Orangutans attend "jungle school" (rehabilitating orphaned orangutans)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=455397&in_page_id=1811
DR Congo rebel threat to gorillas
BBC News, May 21, 2007
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/scripts/external.php?link=7185
Uganda: Chimpanzees in Danger From Population
New Vision, Uganda, May 20, 2007
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/scripts/external.php?link=7189
Orangutans face bleak struggle to survive
Austin American-Statesman, May 13, 2007
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/scripts/external.php?link=7174
Monday, May 21, 2007
Orangutan Conservancy Press Release
ORANGUTAN CONSERVANCY SENDS FUNDS TO BATTLE BORNEO CRISIS
The Orangutan Conservancy, which raises funds and awareness on behalf of orangutan projects in Southeast Asia, today sent $25,000 to the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Reintroduction Project in Borneo in order to buy food, medicine and vital supplies for orphaned apes.
Nyaru Menteng is home to over 600 injured and unwanted orangutans, many of which have been confiscated from poachers or illegal traders. But rampant deforestation, hunting and human encroachment in Borneo have caused a recent surge in orphaned orangutans. Nyaru Menteng confiscated 80 infant orangutans and rescued 223 adults last year, the highest number since the facility opened eight years ago.
At the current rate of decline, experts predict that orangutans will cease to exist in the wild within 25 years. As few as 50,000 are believed to remain in Borneo and Sumatra, two islands that are governed by Indonesia and Malaysia .
The Orangutan Conservancy has supported Nyaru Menteng since 2000, and believes the orphanage – which was created to care for less than half its current orangutan population – is emblematic of Indonesia ’s deep environmental crisis.
“Every day, orangutans move that much closer to extinction,” said Norm Rosen, acting president of the Orangutan Conservancy. “We are pleased to be able to help Nyaru Menteng in this current crisis, but for how much longer can they keep taking in orphans at this rate? Something has to be done to protect the forest as well as the animals that live there.”
It is estimated that Indonesia has already lost more than 72 percent of its original frontier forests, and continues to clear another one percent each year. Much of the recent devastation has been caused by fires and the rush to cultivate palm oil for overseas markets. Meteorological forecasts for 2007 warn that El Nino weather patterns across Southeast Asia could produce some of the worst fires in a decade.
The Orangutan Conservancy was established in 1998 to support projects that focus on wild orangutan protection, reintroduction, education, and research.
The Orangutan Conservancy, which raises funds and awareness on behalf of orangutan projects in Southeast Asia, today sent $25,000 to the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Reintroduction Project in Borneo in order to buy food, medicine and vital supplies for orphaned apes.
Nyaru Menteng is home to over 600 injured and unwanted orangutans, many of which have been confiscated from poachers or illegal traders. But rampant deforestation, hunting and human encroachment in Borneo have caused a recent surge in orphaned orangutans. Nyaru Menteng confiscated 80 infant orangutans and rescued 223 adults last year, the highest number since the facility opened eight years ago.
At the current rate of decline, experts predict that orangutans will cease to exist in the wild within 25 years. As few as 50,000 are believed to remain in Borneo and Sumatra, two islands that are governed by Indonesia and Malaysia .
The Orangutan Conservancy has supported Nyaru Menteng since 2000, and believes the orphanage – which was created to care for less than half its current orangutan population – is emblematic of Indonesia ’s deep environmental crisis.
“Every day, orangutans move that much closer to extinction,” said Norm Rosen, acting president of the Orangutan Conservancy. “We are pleased to be able to help Nyaru Menteng in this current crisis, but for how much longer can they keep taking in orphans at this rate? Something has to be done to protect the forest as well as the animals that live there.”
It is estimated that Indonesia has already lost more than 72 percent of its original frontier forests, and continues to clear another one percent each year. Much of the recent devastation has been caused by fires and the rush to cultivate palm oil for overseas markets. Meteorological forecasts for 2007 warn that El Nino weather patterns across Southeast Asia could produce some of the worst fires in a decade.
The Orangutan Conservancy was established in 1998 to support projects that focus on wild orangutan protection, reintroduction, education, and research.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
In the News
Here is the first, of what I hope will be many, informational posts to this blog.
Last month, ACE celebrated APEril - a month long conglomerate of fund-raising events and public awareness programs. Although we did not bring in as much money as we had hoped, we feel that we were able to get our message out to many people.
On the grounds of Zoo Atlanta, we conducted our second annual Party for Primates; a day of informational and fun activities for adults and children alike.
Another repeat activity occurred at the end of the month at the Inman Park Festival. Our vendor booth is a diverse combination of items for sale and information about great apes and conservation.
This year's APEril celebration culminated with a dinner at Max & Erma's (Dunwoody) whereby 20% of each meal was donated to our organization.
Thanks to everyone who supported our efforts!
Last month, ACE celebrated APEril - a month long conglomerate of fund-raising events and public awareness programs. Although we did not bring in as much money as we had hoped, we feel that we were able to get our message out to many people.
On the grounds of Zoo Atlanta, we conducted our second annual Party for Primates; a day of informational and fun activities for adults and children alike.
Another repeat activity occurred at the end of the month at the Inman Park Festival. Our vendor booth is a diverse combination of items for sale and information about great apes and conservation.
This year's APEril celebration culminated with a dinner at Max & Erma's (Dunwoody) whereby 20% of each meal was donated to our organization.
Thanks to everyone who supported our efforts!
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