Orangutans are an important part of the world we share. They live in the tropical rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia. They are smart, curious and very close cousins of ours. Sadly their lives are brought to a cruel end everyday because of the world's growing appetite for palm oil. Palm oil represents a cheap vegetable fat which is used in the everyday products we eat - from chocolate biscuits, ice cream, crisps...the list really does go on. It is also used in our cosmetics, laundry liquids, shower gels and hair products. Palm oil is not vital for any of these products but it's cheap to grow. This cost cutting at production enables big multi-national brands to make more profit on their goods - but at the expense of our tropical rainforests...and Orangutans. 

The rate at which the tropical rainforests are being irreparably destroyed is unprecedented. Orangutans are direct victims of rainforest clearance. Their homes are literally destroyed around them. They are left to starve, adults are killed by palm oil companies because they are seen as a nuisance. The 'cute' babies are sold off to the pet trade and die from trauma and neglect. It is heartbreaking.

What does the Orangutan Protection Foundation do? 

The OPF represents those people at the front line of this critical fight for the survival of Orangutans. 

Mostly the Orangutans are rescued as very traumatised babies  - they've just lost their forest homes and the mothers who they need. They are starved and dehydrated, often abused. Being intelligent primates, like us they feel fear, desolation and unhappiness. Rescued orphans start off in Nursery School and are gradually taught natural Orangutan survival skills, working their way up to Forest School to full adult independence.  As adults, these orphans are relocated to highly protected rainforest to live wild and free again. This all takes a mammoth effort of work and dedication - food to feed the orphans, medical care, land, human 'baby sitters' who spend everyday nurturing the young Orangutans. The work done is complex and absolutely vital if we are to avoid loosing wild Orangutans . Due to the palm oil industry we are very close to this already...

If you feel this all seems like a problem we can't do anything about, it's all so far away, think again.

We all have a part to play by unwittingly consuming products that contain palm oil. Just take a look at all the biscuit packets in your local supermarket..palm oil is an insidious but not necessary ingredient.. 

Please help me raise funds for the Orangutan Protection Foundation and spread awareness of the serious plight of our beautiful, intelligent Ginger Cousins. 

Remember, we share 97% of our genetic DNA with Orangutans. They really are family. 

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