Orangutans are extremely intelligent creatures who have the ability to reason and think. Baby orangutans cry when they're hungry, whimper when they’re hurt and smile at their mothers. They express emotions just like we do: joy, fear, anger, surprise... it’s all there. If you take a few minutes to watch an orangutan, you'll swear they're just like us.

Unfortunately, all species of orangutans are critically endangered due to the loss of their forest habitat largely to make way for oil palm plantations.  At the current rate, extinction in the wild is likely in the next 10 years for Sumatran orangutans and soon after for Bornean orangutans, with Tapanuli orangutans even closer to disappearing completely. It’s vitally important to protect these incredible animals before it’s too late.

With your help we can make a difference to the conservation of this amazing animal. One way is to try to only buy products which contain palm oil that has been sustainably sourced. Palm oil can be found in many products, from toothpaste to pizza. You could also donate some money here to show your support for my challenge.

On International Orangutan Day 2020 (Wednesday 19 August) I will
be challenging myself to skip 1,600 times in 8 hours. This is two skips for every Tapanuli orangutan left in the world. The money you help me to raise will go to towards saving the orangutans by protecting their tropical forest habitat, working with local communities, and promoting research and education.