WHO IS ORANGUTAN APPEAL UK?

The Orangutan Appeal UK is a registered charity based in the South of England dedicated to the rehabilitation and preservation of Orangutans and the conservation of their habitat.

The appeal strives to protect remaining wild populations of orangutans by providing support and funding for projects across Malaysian and Indonesian Borneo; and by raising awareness of the plight of this great ape across the globe. The appeal is also authorised to work on behalf of the famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.

WHY AM I FUNDRAISING FOR ORANGUTAN APPEAL UK?

Asia's only Great Ape species has been in decline over recent decades for a variety of reasons. The loss of their preferred lowland habitat is the most significant factor.

- Forest degradation. Often a precursor to deforestation where a network of logging roads are established to open up previously inaccessible forest for timber extraction and mining  

- Deforestation. Forests are cleared for industrial palm oil, acacia and rubber plantations. Indonesia and Malaysia produce 90% of the world's palm oil. Palm oil is so popular because it has the highest yield of all edible oils; more than half of all supermarket products now contain it. 

- Poor land use. Fragmentation of remaining forests leaves no forested corridors for ape's to travel along. This leads to local extinctions of small populations of Orangutans

- Forest fires. These are usually started by plantation companies to clear land by burning large areas of forest which took thousands of years to form. Displaced Orangutans often raid plantations and small village holdings where they are then shot.

- Poaching and killing. Orangutans are killed for bush meat, for supposed medicinal value, and for crop protection. Many orphaned orangutans rescued by Orangutan Appeal, are found alone without their mothers, most likely because she has been killed

- Wildlife trade. Youngsters can be taken and sold illegally as pets, kept in appalling conditions. Others are exported out of the country and kept in private zoo's, or are supplied to the "entertainment" industry to perform in show's

- Additional pressures from COVID-19 have meant that rehabilitation centres have closed, and donations have significantly decreased

In July 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reclassified the status of the Bornean Orangutan to CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. This means that they are close to becoming extinct in the wild. Imagine never seeing Orangutans in the wild ever again, either in the flesh, or in pictures, in books and on wildlife documentaries. And instead, children only knowing they exist in zoo's?

Long story short, they need our help!

WHAT AM I DOING?

I will be completing the Great North Run 2020, a famous half marathon in the North of England. Except this year is different. As the Great North Run has been cancelled due to COVID-19, I will running a virtual half marathon. I will find a 13.1mile route, and complete this in place of the GNR. This will be a huge challenge as I am not a natural runner, and the crowds who come to cheer for the GNR will not be there this time for motivation.  I will only have myself and my music! I have started my training early this year so I can get a head start, You can follow my progress on Strava! Visit my page at: 

https://www.strava.com/athletes/sophi_wild

Any donation, no matter how big or small will be put towards an excellent cause to save these fantastic creatures. If you can, please spare a few pounds for this passionate organisation. Tell your friends, tell your family, and get involved in protecting the Orangutan forever!

THANK YOU SO MUCH

SOPH

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.