Nature Alert: More brutality to orangutans in Indonesian zoos.

Friday 3 July 2009

More brutality to orangutans in Indonesian zoos.

Say 'Hello' to Tina. She lives in this dark cage 24/7 with barely enough room to turn around, little food (nothing suitable) and no water.

She is 6 years old and badly malnourished. Her mother died in this same dreadful zoo three years ago.

We are currently doing everything we can to have her transferred immediately, along with a male orangutan in the same bankrupt zoo, to a nearby rescue centre. We obtained approval from the person with the necessary authority, only to learn a few days later another 'official' got involved and stopped the transfer - no reason given.

For the moment I cannot say any more in this Blog, other than we are working on this case every day and will never, ever, give up on Tina and her mate.

Hall of Shame for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Palm Oil Industry.

Nothing can prepare one for the sight of the systematic extermination of orangutans by the government of Indonesia.

Look at the photos and news articles on these pages in the context of a statement the President made to the media on 10th December 2007.

“In the last 35 years about 50,000 orangutans are estimated to have been lost as their habitats shrank. If this continues, this majestic creature will likely face extinction by 2050,” President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the launch of an orangutan conservation plan at the climate talks in Bali.

“The fate of the orangutan is a subject that goes to the heart of sustainable forests … To save the orangutan we have to save the forest.”

Statements like these are most welcome, but unless backed up by action, such words fall on deaf ears within the Ministry of Forestry....who are busy granting licences to cut down the very forests the President says they should protect!

When you think you are to busy to help, please could you reflect for a moment on .........

The following extract refers to environmental problems in general. I just hope you find it as thought provoking and relevant to orangutans as I have.

"This is such a shocking and unpalatable fact that most people deny it, or they just don't want to think about it. They believe as individuals, they can do little about it, so push it to the back of their minds. But I can't do that.

When something has to be done, we need to do it. It doesn't matter how big the challenge is or how hard the solution; if I know something is wrong, and I am in a position to help, I will do my best to make it right." Duncan Bannatyne, successful British businessman.