May 2012 - Sumatran Orangutan Society

JungleVine
May 2012
SOS news
Hello
So here it is - the new edition of JungleVine, with an update on how, with your support, SOS
is working to protect Sumatran orangutans and their rainforests.
COURT CASE MAKES HISTORY
There’s certainly plenty to report. In terms of rainforest restoration, for example, the OIC
(Orangutan Information Centre), our partners in Sumatra, have made fantastic progress.
Between January and March alone they planted around 25,000 seedlings (see page 4).
Several laws exist in Indonesia to protect
endangered species and the precious
habitats they rely on. One of the greatest
challenges conservationists there face is the
fact that these laws are rarely enforced.
It has been illegal to kill, capture, keep
or trade any protected species since 1990,
with the maximum penalty being a jail term
of five years and a 100 million Rupiah fine
(around $10,000 USD). But despite more
than 2,500 confiscations of ‘pet’
orangutans in Indonesia, until now nobody
had ever been prosecuted in Sumatra.
In February, a man in Sumatra was jailed
for his involvement in the illegal trade of
Julius (below) a three-year-old orangutan,
believed to have been poached from the
Gunung Leuser National Park. The man was
sentenced to eight months in prison and
fined 7 million Rupiah ($780 USD).
“The sentencing and fine are shockingly
lenient,” says Helen Buckland, Director of
SOS UK. “However, this is still a groundbreaking case; the first prosecution of an
orangutan trader in Sumatra, and only the
second ever conviction for the illegal trade
of orangutans in Indonesia.”
This work is crucial, given the devastating rate at which orangutan habitat continues to be
lost. Destruction of the Tripa peat swamp forests, home to some 200 orangutans, is a case
in point. Turn to page 5 to find out more and discover what we’ve been doing to help. And
thank you to all who have already donated to our Save Tripa appeal.
You can also read about our Jungle VIP Auction, launched in March and supported by a host
of red-headed celebrities including Nicole Kidman, Chris Evans and Tim Minchin (page 6).
If you missed the auction, don’t worry – you can still buy the official 96.4% Orangutan
t-shirt via our newly revamped webshop. And there are plenty of other ways to help too.
Pushed for time? You’ll find lots of easy, speedy, ways to fundraise on page 12.
03 SOS news.
06 Stars unite to help orangutans.
09 Drawing a future for orangutans.
10 Orangutan rescues.
12 Fundraising news.
14 Kids corner: quiz.
15 Supporter showcase: Volcom.
16 Get involved.
Find us on...
facebook.com/orangutanssos
02
twitter.com/orangutanssos
Photo: SOCP (Julius).
Photos (cover and right): ©2010 Suzi Eszterhas/www.suzieszterhas.com
Thank you
Meet our new Patron!
We are proud to announce that awardwinning wildlife photographer Suzi
Eszterhas (above) has become a Patron
of SOS. She will join existing Patrons
including comedian Bill Bailey.
“I’m thrilled,” says Suzi. “SOS is doing
real work on the ground that I have
witnessed with my own eyes. I am so
impressed by the organisation’s ability
to use its resources wisely and have such
a broad reach.”
Suzi has supported SOS for some time,
providing stunning images to promote a
cause that’s close to her heart.
“I can’t imagine not wanting to save
Sumatran orangutans. As one of the
world’s most critically endangered Great
Apes, they’re a species conservationists
should target,” she says.
The threats facing orangutans are
more serious than ever, so we look
forward to working with Suzi to raise
awareness and funds. “I first met Suzi
in Sumatra in 2010 whilst we were both
visiting SOS field projects,” says SOS
Chair Corinna McShane. “Suzi has been
a wonderful ambassador for SOS ever
since and we’re very honoured that she
has agreed to be our Patron.”
www.orangutans-sos.org/about/patrons
www.suzieszterhas.com
03
SOS news
SOS INTRODUCING...
Rachel Smith and Emma Learner,
Vodafone World of Difference.
For the past two months, SOS has been
lucky enough to receive the help of two new
team members. Rachel (above left) and
Emma (above right) joined us thanks to the
Vodafone World of Difference Programme, a
fantasic scheme which enables 500 people
to work for their dream charity for two or
four months.
Rachel’s worked as a fashion merchandiser
for a leading high street retail group and
recently set up her own company, Blonde
Fox, specializing in vintage clothing. “WOD
has been a great platform for me to provide
support by applying my fashion industry
skills to this worthy cause,” she says.
Emma, meanwhile, has interned at WildAid
and Earthwatch and worked as a primate
research assistant for ZSL. “I have always
been fascinated by primates and saw this
as a unique opportunity to use my skills to
raise awareness of the plight of orangutans;
it has been such a pleasure,” she says. They
will both be missed! Many thanks Vodafone.
Photo: OIC (camera trap).
NEWSFLASH!
Our partners the OIC have been involved
in two more dramatic orangutan rescues.
In April, their HOCRU team spotted
a female orangutan, around 10 years
old, isolated in a forest patch within an
area of farmland. And just this month a
mother and baby were rescued too. Turn
to page 10 for the details.
04
Sadly, due to a combination of threats,
the IUCN (www.iucnredlist.org) has
classed the Sumatran orangutan, tiger
and rhino as critically endangered for
some time. In January, the Sumatran
elephant was added to the list.
“Given the threats facing these species,
it is not a huge surprise,” says Dave
Dellatore, SOS Scientific Director. “It is
very worrying, however, particularly as
the Leuser forests are the only place in
the world where they all coexist.”
This is why, with your help, we are
working hard to protect the forests. Our
partners the OIC have already planted
more than half a million seedlings, work
that continues at a pace.
“Between January and March we
planted 20 hectares of degraded forest,”
explains Panut Hadisiswoyo, Founding
Director of the OIC. “The team will plant
another 20 hectares by the end of June.”
As well as orangutans, there is already
evidence that this work could directly
benefit the Sumatran elephant (pictured
below, caught on OIC camera traps).
“In March and April, the restoration
team encountered herds of wild
elephants in the restoration site,”
explains Dave. “And each herd consisted
of at least 15 elephants.”
www.orangutans-sos.org/projects
ENT
G
R
U
SOS JOINS SAVE TRIPA FIGHT
Photos: SOCP (Tripa) SOS Bali (Fitria).
Sumatran elephant now
critically endangered
L!
A
E
APP
SOS has launched an urgent appeal to help
save an area of peat swamp forest, home
to one of the highest densities of
orangutans in the world.
In March we received reports of fires
raging in the Tripa forests in Aceh province,
Sumatra, a vital ecosystem being illegally
cleared for oil palm plantations. Once home
to some 3,000 orangutans, there are now
thought to be only 200 left. Clearance of
the forest is breaking several Indonesian
laws, and experts predict that unless the
destruction stops, the remaining
population of orangutans in Tripa will be
wiped out by the end of the year.
Along with a coalition of conservation
organisations including the Sumatran
Orangutan Conservation Programme
(SOCP), Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari (YEL),
Walhi, Greenpeace Indonesia and Sawit
Watch, we have asked supporters to help
pressure the Indonesian government to
put a stop to the destruction. More than
50,000 people have signed the Save Tripa
petitions calling for action.
The Indonesian government has since
launched an investigation into the
clearance of these forests.
Donations to our Save Tripa Appeal will
support the Save Tripa coalition in keeping
up pressure on the authorities and
ensuring this case is taken seriously by the
Indonesian courts. But we need your help.
So far we have raised more than £2,380;
thank you to all who donated. You can still
make a donation and get the latest news
via www.orangutans-sos.org/savetripa.
SOS news
Star donates $20,000
Entrepreneur Fitria Yusuf (below) has
donated an incredible US$20,000 to our
SOS Bali branch to help fund rainforest
restoration in Sumatra. An SOS supporter
since December, she feels strongly about
the cause and is not only supporting this
work to help orangutans, but all the other
rainforest species too. Earlier this year
Fitria saw the rainforest first hand. “I had
lots of wonderful experiences, seeing
orangutans, beautiful birds, insects, plants
and trees. It made me realise that if we do
not act now, it will be too late.” We would
like to give Fitria our heartfelt thanks for
her generous donation.
REHABILITATED ORANGUTANS
HAVING BABIES EARLIER?
Dave Dellatore, our Scientific Director, has
contributed to a new paper about breeding
behaviour of rehabilitated female
orangutans. Published in Primates, the
paper reveals some interesting findings, with
evidence that such orangutans are having
their first offspring earlier than wild and
zoo orangutans. There is also evidence that
these orangutans have a shorter inter-birth
interval and higher rate of infant mortality.
“This suggests we should try to minimise the
time orangutans spend in close proximity
to or in the care of humans,” says Dave. You
can download the paper via the following
link: http://bit.ly/HKXFSC
FOR MORE NEWS
visit longcall.wordpress.com
05
Jungle VIPs
Jungle VIPs
18
OXFO
RD
IN B
MAIL,
Wedn
esd
TO:
PHO
M
CO
AS.
ERH
ZTH
IES
SUZ
AS/
RH
THE
I ESZ
© SUZ
Bake RIEF
heroescakes fo
charity r
Curry
night
M
Stars unite to
help orangutans
How our Jungle VIP Auction made a splash in the press
and raised more than £10,000 for the cause!
Photos: ©2010 Suzi Eszterhas/www.suzieszterhas.com (orangutan) Kalpesh Lathigra/DMBMEDIA (celebrites)
29,
2012
KIN
Sta
for ars on re
nima d ale
l cha rt
rity
G: C
y of as
sault
aign
to h
elp
save
oran
oxfor
dmail
.co.uk
/ne
guta
ns
ws
. THE
OM
S.C
NEW
AST
CO
IFIC
. PAC
DIA
B ME
DM
RA/
HIG
H LAT
PES
: KAL
TOS
PHO
.
BEY
A RO
IND
T: BEL
OR
REP
Y LTD
RAR
E LIB
TUR
PIC
Guilt
haring 96.4% of our DNA, orangutans
are among our closest living relatives in
the animal kingdom. They are also the only
‘red’ ape. These are just two of the many
reasons orangutans are so special and why
SOS works so hard to save them.
In March, we launched our Jungle VIP
Auction to help do just that. The idea? To
invite famous redheads to support their
flame-haired cousins by donating items
for the cause. We were blown away by the
Febru
ary
amp
E
JAN
A, IS
OL HR TO
NIC ND CDRIVEKEY’SNS
A CH ON TA
N
U
LAU E A MRANG
GIV UT O
ABO
S
ay,
BAC
OXON
for He : For
hold roes ces cha
cak its ann is planni rity He
e sal
ual
26 and
e’ bet ‘co ong to lp
Las April ween lossal
7.
March
com t year’s
eve
take muniti
es nat nt saw
hop part and
ion
184
eve es to ma the wide
n
cha
It wabigger ke 201 rity
yea
2 an
nts
reside
r.
Ox
hold nts to fordshi
re
workpcake take
cen lacessales in part and
tres
sch
and
in ool
To reg .
sho
on e s,
helpfo iste
nd ppi
th
is ng
as
anLo
/bake- rheroer in
eve
ve r nt,feel ,”
tels.ooe
a-cho
d vis
rg.u
did
ake
an
wh
I
voy at -20ess k/e
as ven it o
ts
e Sa th dr 12it
, wh ,
Th su re e the ial in
DE
ris youth t
at DD
m INGor spec
tnig
Ch
. “I’
st in his ernigh e
ht ll ad TO
d
even97
N: ho
theer wiwill an
Th s
ov
am
us be heldiAo cur
Tha
the r 19Ch
rome
-grryd an y pu b he lp is
in
d in
winnilte
n-oaidan
morn s. s Val
t rarza
rife of ouare mo
r of rre th at ment
glanthsay
Air as Taley
e
ne s Su
g
a bul
. ea kf Am
y be
.
she Br
dinand
hi th in viron
ma t som rities their e The
rch n
eve d as ted anc
ny al en
e nex
ess , bu celeb ing osBe
nt na ur at “A
nga rke
1 Mad ca or
sin
l Sps dowill
fo n. naturt
bu owbiz ired pledg d wh on Mo wo
sh -ha to
foinr beIn
held ’ says. hes onvo lve bids s,
ha ice
ea
6.3ss, nda
key
rry species
� An
y, yMa
at nc t in place sh irt %
on rld of flame mes re dh s. actre 0pm
e
sta
be Ne
w Str
,” he
,
Boair t andM ul
ge
rch
T- 6.4
wo ous it co lo w heart rts, din
ct a 12
eetlau
ing on
and drew Ffr
jusngs 8.3
Contaoki
, to items d ge “9 e fact ’
ote
fel their Robe or
do
0pm
en
at
g
fam
cti
g
pr
ne
n
Fran
a
cos rth . au
st
tra018
en
wh
tin018
s areorct
nt in ir ow sig messa to th mans
t £15e
mo ious t fo r ched cola er ex an
Bards ch
69 337
de
wa
the 69 wo
pp
337Thos. e off the lly the fers are hu
suails
ser pp or s tou d’s Ni-mak ris Evdet
FA
of 799
n,
us
ley
re res
MO
ia with
of m
Ch stars aid . gu ta e for Th733
su ght ha Alou cake
on
or
ec
in g
all
US
ich
th
in
.
cti
DJ
ed
mo
d
atu
pli Girls and and
au rey sp ne
wh cre ecies s to e. “I’ ”
ess on Or an d
in
Ch risNi co redhea
or her,
bu blazo tan”, ting d sp a los s Jan lance.
an-trAucti ra n ng an at, is ape
BANB
their Ev le Ki ds inc
authe As the titiVIP m at
em angu chan relate ies is ts,” saythe ba
hi habit at
at
ac UR
gre
rch
en sely spec an ress
Su 64,
Jan e of ngle
Or
st
fla an s ardm an ludral
lly
po
tog
se
a
1 Ma to theget
tu EvafirY: Wil s rea .
eth me
som e Ju er ede to Kidnaof
the st clo s of scendto red
of
37
the ns wa
liam 26
es on go to
Oxfor er to -colou e pu an d
its ling
g
I cola,Sidly
Th da ng du of con
mo “A los our de a bit
ing ton
nch cee ds ways
ct. soLan
on e,
96.4% tin
, has Nie,
tin er,
tr an d ch raise red hetti ng
n lau pro more
en ich , tion tass
to to do
of bevic
exted
s beenot t the
ing donaJane
ctio
d
All
say
aultal-lovof two
wh struc threa16come
Au .
an ased
. For
Or anarity mone adsh
(SO
n bu of
s ar are and ses,b
e,” we’re
byusbea
VIP VIP iety
im
S).
y for
cou
de ious to be in
ple
t
net,ntspart that
es
in, ds
gle un gle Soc rg.
gu ta the
Kid
Oth
ting
us dhea e left) dr y pu
s ca
pla eir
tan
Heanthi
ling
ser ies a big
d
t tha
e Jun
coma
n SostSu
on Jul
ed
ton
the
Gi rls er sta
anof
Th o.u k/JOrangu glevip.o
sren
in wa
– th
.
spec“I’m con
of
o
s re - ovh-lov Surre
•
giv
rs
d diti
hit
pa
13
y.c
y
jun
se cie
ou ty(ab
Rober Al
tak
om
17:
ste aponal rt en
eba atran visit
s whan
a sixbe
02:
ou d ing r clo, fam berts
ere lly our pa
disgd
muc at his
2
-mont
Sum olved,
queen ts, com
par
kin
st to t.”
cha
int ’s rea
2/1
name fo r �the
Ro ese stay
sinouth
emt inc
fir
25/
ou . big
inv
hms h BA
t) is tge
th a
“It stroying imal the abrge
little of cak edi
g
wit ha s CKING
rcolatedlud
ec
e
p lefan
de ole an t is ked on na l iteg in righ
TimNi naNi
la t, re
Oxfor local (toes
coing
Jan
prot on. do
:
wo com
and
wh plane be talr is am rso Fittin Ni co
offer la
edi Above
ctie ve Mi
tan flato
ban
she ’sGir
vou
Theyd gu
30th
n
isnch
pe e.
au As
her
the eds to singe
ls Alo an Tim DJ Ch
dbid
ft) andin,
us ico ess
Raitydio )rha
anhav
be auc
is(le
Inea ar
ud sin Min
or
ris
a
ne The na ted ca le int dr Walsh
add
ht
e tioA. ch
heas
the sty
ed a
Au
do
ger chin, Evans
a eac
ThctiDN
fo r t
ned
e hrigEvan d.
by
for e, al-pr erleyber.
ve
Nicola celebr and
off indon
on to ov
tomour ms
es s it thaial,
ate
ha ction th em anim Kimb
(ab Chris
orr r wh
Rober ity che below
the d ite
au le the te t Noveme dr I saw spec s
Su ite ow
he. DJ ich op Jun ms to
f Jan , left to
ts.
ju ngnated ndma las t th when ing ration o
ous maAs
e Ash
traile
en s gle ViP
eth leb is als r
wh n ora
do her ba party ly goknew
er the ly end
on lin
ce o
he
to thday tu al but I it to som
ang ngutan
e
day wh m
bec fir st
ere
e
bir “I ac oot, ar birth cola, ms fro
s
om
d
gre
th
and are ser
sh to we ’s s Ni ite
at
Co e ext
s of has
ap e
ley
cou
oto
ipr esemedia inct.
ph nted er ” say n of ge. r say she in
spe ld be
n
cie s
I wad Kimbrfect, ectio-up ranAshe gown silk sat er
celebr nte r Tim
to
g
an re pe g a sel ke Jane
re e. Ov e
also ity cheCh risMinch
in,
we natin ll manor evenin is pubodic ed lacI’m
f
t-sh been
Ev an
rad
do inty Dow do ska dress ted -bead etty. re
photo Jane
io
� EN
s
tion.irts to
we
Da Fello uszyn“The corse hand y pr
gra Asher an d
DANG
:
ich
Kr
jun They coincide phed
fas
hav
ted ned, ing d ver wh
an
en
gle
ERED
can
we
e hanhion,
to
gre ntribu a bo stunn ry an oes
Ot he vip.or
be puwith the aring
er
:A
dw iconic
g.
pp
co d has the glitte in sh
cou
singer
rs
rch
sto
SO ritten
me
ple
tak
ase aucan s goes htly g sat
ow
of Sum
Geri
ter
ing
ties S works lyrics morab
d via
An
thi – slig din .” the sh
ilia
atra
er Ste ne Ro Halliw pa rt
ha bitliving with .
, and
top o inclumatch re
n ora
Hucknve Da binson ell, TV inc lud
tow ats , alongs local com
ngu
als to star wo
“Sp
vis
e fut ard
tans
he
ide
dyedThe
and , snookepresen
Aucti all.
in the
ora munifer en ecies
ure s a lpi ng
pop
r
bec
on
wild
Mr for the mo re the ngutan
star playom
thr t rea
3
lots
d
ough
son e ext
shirt Mi nc ir for su stam wo
Mick
includ
.ind
uta
inc
s
out
037
ina rk
ns
This he wo hin , whests.
e cel
36his an d ha t for dif
ble
ment are
5p0
ebr
ve
a hu world re for o do
121
hav tory,
ity
do n’t needestro
LLO
ing
but
HE
sho ge pit tour, saihis Reana ted
ora ne
uld
d to yed in their
a
Or
dy
bec y tha d: “I
env nga
hap
For
thi
ome
humaanguta
t
pen way tha iron.”
ns
extincan y spenk it’s
t doe
Ms n DNA. share
st.
cie
96.4
s
dre Asher
per
ss she , wh
cen
ing
o don
t of
wo
Sta
joked: nda re to pre ated
rd
sen a green
to the “I did Film
t the
Aw
ard
with m bef n’t feel
Eves
ore
hea this cam bei especiallyin 1997,
ng
ds
paign, asked close
Mr share
stay Evans an un
but to hel
p
for two don spoken all
ry Inn
red
ate
, in at his d an ovebond.” ing.
Chidd pub
The rnight
He
ingfold
Mu
pro said: “A
, Go lbertect
nyt
dalmme
hin
nt, a spe
doing. wi thi cies natg that
n rea ura helps
In ”
son l enviro to
Marcu2009,
is wo ncom
s
the
A BA
edi
rth
Ne Bri
to rai w Th gstock ans inc
dev NBUR
e
elo
ity, se abo eatre in perfor luding
of you pmentY housin
which ut £10
Georg med
nam ng app built g
,00
at
is
ed
e
wit
bas
ren
who
� To news@
aft
h
ed in 0 for the Street
mentoer the tices the hel
ebay. fin oxford Cowle charThe
late has bee p
She
co.uk d ou mail.c y Road.
dev Donal red the
life
was
n
elopm dso
Ba
coa
t
o.u
m.
/Ju
in
nbu
maiso
ch
ngleV mo re k
opene
ent n Co
ry MP her fift
Conne nettes of 10 urt
IP
vis
Friday d the
Tony ies.
it
Donal xions is nam one-be
sai develo Baldr
the
you d:
pment y, wh
Sh dson. worke ed aft droom
“Sh ngs “It wa
and
r Jul er
o
Millere was
Eve e was ters mo s Julie on
ie
sup was com
and Road,a life coa
port
app rybody very mutivated who go
Valley
of Ox pleted
in Dedied foll Bretch ch for
t
nam ropriat felt it wa ch res .
cem
owing Hil
the
e
It is Colleg ford with the
ed
l
and
ber
The after the pro s be pected
hou a par e.
a sho projec
.
Cherw
.
pro £1.2m her.” ject
rt illn t
Gro sing protnersh
was
ject
ell
ip bet
up,
ess
and
is aimafford
Huma
Southvider
ween
ed at able hom
age provid
wa Sanct
Counc nity,
d
ed
Cherwrk Ha uary
Wo 16 to 25. trainin young es
il,
col
Conne ell bitat
rk sta
leg
g for people
rted
The e.
xions Distric for
20
in De
given unemp
and t
cem
the
launch a fur loyed
ber
201
ing ther bo have
Lea
0
of
bee
rni
ost
Call ng Ce The Fou with n
ntr
the
012
95 276e on ndation
190 Friday
.
for
det
ails
.
Appr
entic
es h
onou
r life
response - Nicole Kidman, Tim Minchin,
Nicola Roberts, Chris Evans, Jane Asher,
Newton Faulkner, Geri Halliwell, Steve Davis,
Anne Robinson, Mick Hucknall, Radiohead…
a long list of stars took part.
They donated some fantastic items too,
including the iconic ruffled shirt worn by
multi-award winning comedian Tim for
his world tour, song lyrics handwritten by
Newton, exclusive Radiohead artwork and
a stunning Moulin Rouge poster signed by
Nicole. Through the sale of the items, our
96.4% Orangutan t-shirts (see overpage)
plus donations, we raised £10,875,
smashing our fundraising target.
coac
h
CHRIS EVANS “When evolution states that
things are going to eventually meet their
demise and conservation can almost get in
the way that’s one thing, but when there’s
total and utter devastation going on, like
there is in the rainforest, that’s different.”
JANE ASHER ”I didn’t feel especially close
to orangutans before being asked to help
with this campaign, but all redheads share a
bond… And now I’ve been linked with these
delightful creatures by my colouring, thanks
to SOS, I do feel a certain affinity!”
NICOLA ROBERTS “It’s really apparent in
today’s society that we’re not only
destroying our part of the planet, but the
whole animal kingdom - their part of the
planet is the first to be hit. And I think that
needs to be talked about.”
TIM MINCHIN “I think that if you want to
show that you’re serious about helping
orangutans, buying a shirt that a hairy
ginger creature has sweated in up to 150
times is probably a sign that you’re serious
about your activism!”
‘I do think it would be
heart-breaking for humanity
if we lost them.’
06
The auction made a huge splash in the
press too, with articles featured everywhere
from the Daily Mail, The Mirror, Hello and
OK! to New Scientist and The Ecologist.
There’s no doubt the ‘celebrity factor’
helped win some headlines, particularly
given the passion the stars feel for the
cause. Tim Minchin, for example, is an
ardent supporter. “Orangutans are having
their environment destroyed (cont. page 8)
07
N!
O
I
T
ETI
P
M
CO
08
thank you. You can still help by visiting our
website at www.orangutans-sos.org/help.
We’d like to say a special thank you to
Kalpesh Lathigra (www.kalpeshlathigra.
com) for photographing our Jungle VIPs,
David Fisher (www.davidfisher.co.uk) for
photographing the auction items and
Alasdair Davies for designing the auction
website. Your help is hugely appreciated.
Drawing a future
for orangutans
Yes, it’s competition time here at SOS, so get out those pencils
and paintbrushes and get creative…
W
Photo: ©2010 Suzi Eszterhas/www.suzieszterhas.com
Just some of the great
items sold via our Jungle
VIP Auction launched in
March this year.
BEEN THERE, BOUGHT THE T-SHIRT?
Chris Evans, Tim Minchin, Nicola
Roberts and Jane Asher were all snapped
wearing our 96.4% Orangutan t-shirt.
Made by Howies, these organic cotton
t-shirts are still available in a variety of
colours and sizes, all proceeds to SOS.
www.orangutans-sos.org/shop
Photos: David Fisher (artwork, lyrics) Andy Hollingworth (Tim) Layton Thompson (seedling) © Splash News (Nicola)
in a way that doesn’t need to happen and
that is completely short-sighted,” he told
SOS. “There’s no doubt that animals with
which we have an anthropocentric
connection tug at the heartstrings more
and orangutans are just beautiful animals…
but I do think it would be heart-breaking for
humanity if we lost them.”
As exciting as it’s been to have such great
celebrity support orangutans are, of course,
the ultimate Jungle VIPs. Not only do they
play a key role in rainforest regeneration but
they’re also a fantastic flagship species.
“SOS is working very hard to tackle the
most urgent threats facing Sumatran
orangutans and their habitat,” says Claire
Baylis, SOS Communications and
Development Manager. “So we want to
give our heartfelt thanks to all of our
celebrity supporters and to everyone who
placed bids, bought t-shirts, donated to
the cause or spread the word. We really
couldn’t have done it without you.”
The number of Sumatran orangutans is
estimated to have fallen by more than 90%
since 1900 with only around 6,600 now
left in the wild. SOS is dedicated to protecting orangutans and their habitat through
rainforest restoration, community-led
conservation, education and campaigning.
If you took part in the Jungle VIP Auction,
Photo: Howies
Jungle VIPs
ould you like to see your artwork
published in JungleVine and win a
fantastic goody bag? Enter our competition
and you just might do both! The theme is
‘Why we should save orangutans’ and there
are three categories – aged 8 and under,
aged 9 – 11 and aged 12 – 15. You can
draw, paint, sketch or create a collage; it’s
up to you. The closing date is 1st July 2012
and winners will be selected by SOS. We will
also feature a selection of the entries on
our website and share them via Facebook
and Twitter, to help spread the word about
orangutan conservation. Unfortuantely SOS
cannot return entries but we will proudly
display them on our office walls!
THE PRIZES
The winner of each category will receive a
cuddly orangutan toy, a framed picture and
some orangutan stickers.
SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO:
Sumatran Orangutan Society UK,
The Old Music Hall,
106 - 108 Cowley Road,
Oxford,
OX4 1JE
UK
Remember to include your name, age and
address with your competition entry.
Good luck!
09
Project close-up
Project close-up
EN
H
W
:
S
E
U
C
S
E
R
ORANGUTAN
.
..
E
D
I
L
L
O
C
S
D
L
TWO WOR
ed into
utans are forc ers.
g
n
ra
o
,
re
u
lt
for agricu
the farm
at is converted bad news for the apes and
it
b
a
h
r
ei
th
s
;
A
search of food
plantations in
founded in 2010, is responsible for mapping
Photos: OIC
W
hether it’s elephants trampling corn
fields in Kenya or snow leopards killing
livestock in India, human wildlife conflict is
occurring all over the world, mainly due to
habitat loss. Sadly, Sumatra is no
different. Orangutan habitat is being lost
at an alarming rate, pushing the critically
endangered apes into areas where
farmlands and forest meet. Seen as pests,
in some cases they are killed and their
infants may also be taken and sold via the
illegal pet trade.
This is where our partners the OIC play a
vital role; protecting orangutans and helping
local farmers protect their land. The Human
Orangutan Conflict Response Unit (HOCRU),
10
conflict sites around the Gunung Leuser
National Park (GLNP) and preventing
conflict in the field. The team also runs
training sessions and workshops for farmers.
However, due to the increase in human
orangutan conflict they are also involved in
orangutan rescues, responding to reports of
orangutans stranded in farmlands or being
illegally held in captivity. So far the team
has responded to more than 50 cases.
In January, for example, OIC Founding
Director Panut Hadisiswoyo received a call
from the Leuser Ecosystem Management
Authority (BPKEL) asking for help with two
orangutans; a mother and infant that had
strayed into farmland near Rimba Sawang
in East Aceh. Orangutans feed on leaves
and rubber tree bark, so the pair had been
tempted into the area - about 800 hectares
- previously used as a rubber plantation but
soon to be planted with oil palms. With the
bulldozers moving in, the orangutans were
unable to return to their home, the GLNP,
about 6km away...
After a four hour search the HOCRU team
found the orangutans in a small patch
of degraded forest. The infant, still reliant on its mother’s milk, looked weak and
unhealthy. Knowing they had to work fast,
HOCRU called on the veterinary expertise
of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation
Programme (SOCP) and the pair were
page 5) there wasn’t a vet available,”
successfully sedated and given health
explains Kriezna, HOCRU Coordinator.
checks before being released the next day.
“Thankfully we were able to return with
“It was a special moment – the mother
SOCP staff two weeks later, and rescued
climbing the nearest tree and swinging into
the orangutan. She was released into our
the branches,” says Panut. “Leaving them
restoration site that evening.”
isolated with access to so little food could
The story didn’t end there... Just two
well have resulted in their deaths.”
weeks ago, a mother and baby orangutan
The next month, HOCRU returned to
were rescued from the same plantation.
survey the area with SOCP, BPKEL and the
Again, they were successfully moved and
Natural Resource Conservation Agency
released, free to roam the National Park.
(BKSDA), and heard reports of another
Sadly, with agricultural expansion
mother and infant, isolated in a large oil
continuing, it’s likely that many more
palm plantation in Aceh
orangutans will be placed
‘The infant, still reliant on its in danger. “It is also likely
Tamiang. After a two
day search the
mother’s milk, looked weak...’ that we will see more
orangutans were found.
conflict between humans
But with nightfall approaching, the team
and other species that are also losing
decided to complete the rescue the next
their habitat, such as Sumatran tigers and
day, following the orangutans until they
elephants,” says Panut.
built their nests for the night. The next day
It’s therefore crucial that HOCRU continue
they were tranquilised, moved, given a clean
their work, not just responding to conflict
bill of health and released back into the
but also working with local communities
National Park.
and government to prevent conflict before it
Last month, HOCRU and BPKEL rangers
happens. The relationships the OIC develop
again surveyed the plantation area and this
with local communities are a crucial part of
time spotted a female orangutan isolated in
the process. It is only because people can
a forest patch. Unfortunately, without
contact HOCRU that these orangutans now
access to a vet, the team could not
have a second chance at life in the wild.
complete the rescue immediately. “Normally
we’d have been able to act more quickly
SOS is very grateful to all our supporters
but due to the ongoing tragedy in Tripa (an
who make this vital work possible. To find
area of peat swamp forest, home to around
out how you can support HOCRU and other
200 orangutans, being illegally cleared – see
projects see www.orangutans-sos.org/help
11
Supporting SOS
Supporting SOS
More ways you’re working to help save orangutans
Sponsored walk raises $1000
Well done to parents, teachers, students and
sponsors of Dyatmika school in Bali who
made the school’s Orangutan Sponsored
Walk such a huge success. The event, held in
late 2011, saw students from kindergarten,
elementary and high school taking part and
raised more than US$1,000 for SOS projects.
It’s not the first time the school has done
their bit for orangutans. Earlier in the
year students made postcards, paintings,
necklaces and stickers with a Sumatran
orangutan theme. These, combined with
the proceeds of a silent auction and other
fundraising activities organised by the
Parents, Teachers and Friends Association of
Dyatmika, raised around US$1,500. Grade 7
student Salvatore Aljaidi raised an
additional US$1,000 through donations too.
AND A BIG THANK YOU...
To the volunteers who’ve helped with our
bucket-shakes and stalls during the past
few months, helping raise vital funds for
SOS. We even had a bellydancer to help
convince people to part with their cash!
Well done also to super-fit Wira Husada,
who ran the Munich half marathon!
12
Photo: Nick Tignonsini
Fundraising news
RE
WE’ !
W
HO ING IT
DO
4 SPEEDY WAYS TO FUNDRAISE!
1
GO ONLINE: Use www.everyclick.com
to browse the web and we can receive
a donation each time you search. Simply
bookmark Everyclick as your preferred
search engine and pick SOS as your charity.
RECYCLE: Got printer cartridges or old
mobiles lying around? Simply register
with www.recycle4charity.co.uk and choose
SOS as the beneficiary. Freepost provided.
SAVE A PENNY: The Every Penny Helps
scheme (www.charitablegiving.co.uk)
allows you to donate the pennies from your
salary every week or month.
BIN YOUR BANGER: Turn an old car
into cash for SOS; www.giveacar.co.uk
arrange free collection of your vehicle, sell
it at auction or scrap it and - if we’re your
chosen charity- the profits go straight to us.
2
BEETHOVEN FOR ORANGUTANS
From concerts to comedy gigs, we like to
make our fundraising events as memorable
as possible. The latest, on February 14th,
was no different. Classical music fans from
Oxford and beyond headed to the
Jacqueline du Pré music building to see
multi-award winning musicians Katie
Stillman (violin) and Simon Lane (piano)
perform, raising more than £500 for SOS.
It was a real privilege to have such talented
artists onboard. Canadian violinist Katie
Stillman toured Mexico at just 15-years-old
and won the Grand Prize at the Canadian
Music Competitions aged 16 before
studying at the Royal Northern College of
Music where she met duo partner Simon.
They have since performed throughout the
UK and Canada.
“We are delighted to be involved in
fundraising for SOS, which is so crucial to
the future of our planet,” said Katie.
Thank you to Katie and Simon, to Bothy
Vineyard for the delicious wine, Caz Haigh
for the poster, our volunteers and all who
came along. And, of course, to Beethoven,
Elgar and Suk for the beautiful tunes!
3
4
More supporters join JustGiving
We’ve had some inspiring new additions to
our team of JustGiving fundraisers. Natalie
Mascall is doing a sky dive and our very own
Chair of Trustees Corinna McShane (above)
will be doing the Big Fun Run in London!
You can sponsor them or organise your own
fundraiser at www.justgiving.com/sumorang
Meridian Elementary, USA
If there’s one word to describe the
students of Meridian Elementary it’s
determined. When the Colorado school
first got in touch about fundraising for
SOS, we had no idea of the many and
varied ways they’d go about it. More
than 50 students are taking part in the
school’s Meridian Orangutan Project.
Parents and local businesses are also
supporting the campaign.
“The kids chose SOS because it aligns
with our vision of how we want to help,”
explains Jennifer Hetrick, one of the
teachers involved. “Initially we thought
only of the orangutans, but then came
to understand the bigger picture; the
need to save the forests and help local
people - all of which SOS addresses.”
The students have created a website
and Facebook page and already raised
over $1,000. They also persuaded a local
restaurant to hold a fundraising night.
Next is an ‘open house’, attended by
their families and others. “We will have
table talks so students can provide
information and discuss issues like palm
oil and the pet trade,” says Jennifer.
“They will also offer solutions such as
signing online petitions.”
There will also be a gift shop selling
items the students have made and a
silent auction of donated items. The
children have painted pictures to be sold
via eBay too (see above). We want to
thank all of the students and will keep
you updated on their progress via
www.facebook.com/OrangutansSOS.
13
SOS partnerships
Kids corner
3 Orangutans breed more slowly than any
other primate. On average, how often does
a female orangutan have a baby?
a)
Every 3-4 years.
b)
Every 7-8 years.
c)
Every 10-12 years.
Supporter
Showcase
4 Approximately how many years can
orangutans live for in the wild?
a)
25 years.
b)
45 years.
c)
65 years.
Photo: ©2010 Suzi Eszterhas/www.suzieszterhas.com
Read each of the questions and select the
answer you think is correct. You’ll find the
answers at the bottom of the page (right).
1 Orangutans are found in Sumatra and
Borneo. How do Sumatran orangutans
differ from Bornean orangutans?
a)
They have lighter hair.
b)
They have much longer arms.
c)
They are faster.
2 Indigenous peoples of Indonesia and
Malaysia call this ape ‘Orang Hutan’. What
does this translate as in English?
a)
Red person.
b)
Tree person.
c)
Person of the forest.
14
6 Which sense do orangutans rely upon as
their primary sense?
a)
Smell.
b)
Touch.
c)
Sight.
7 There are various differences between
male and female orangutans. Which sex
makes a very loud, booming, ‘long-call’?
a)
Adult male.
b)
Adult female.
c)
Both.
8 Orangutans are flexible when it comes to
their diet, but what do they eat mostly?
a)
Insects.
b)
Fruit.
c)
Small mammals.
9 The orangutan is one of our closest living
relatives in the animal kingdom. How much
of our DNA do we share with them?
a)
76.4%
b)
92.4%
c)
96.4%
Photo: Volcom.
Complete our quiz and find out!
5 Orangutans are the only strictly ‘arboreal’
ape. What does this mean?
a)
They spend most of their time up in the trees.
b)
They have red fur.
c)
They live in family groups.
ANSWERS
1a, 2c, 3b, 4b, 5a, 6c, 7a, 8b, 9c
Orangutans:
how much
do you know?
This issue: Volcom
What do you get when you team a cool
clothing and lifestyle brand with a charity
working hard to save orangutans? A stylish
way to aid conservation! That’s just what
discerning shoppers will get, thanks to our
partnership with Volcom (www.volcom.com).
A new range of girls’ tops have hit stores
around the world, as part of the label’s
V.Co-Logical series. The range includes a
tank top (right), short-sleeved tee and longsleeved top, all featuring an orangutan print.
The tops, made using recycled cotton, will
be available to buy online and via Volcom
stores and other outlets in Europe, the USA,
Canada, Australia, Indonesia and South
America, with 5% of sales donated to SOS.
Volcom’s Indonesia branch has supported
SOS since 2010 via 1% For The Planet
(www.onepercentfortheplanet.org). But this
year, Volcom HQ decided to ramp-up their
support; this great new range is the result.
“We love the awareness and education
SOS delivers on behalf of the orangutan,”
says Derek Sabori, Director of Sustainability.
“The constant reminder that habitat loss
and poaching are pushing them towards
extinction is something we need to keep
front of mind; once we lose any creature on
this planet, there’s no going back.”
Volcom constantly strives to reduce its own
environmental footprint, says Derek, but
is also keen to support those doing great
work outside of this sphere, “especially if
there is an opportunity to engage
consumers in issues and persuade them to
consider sustainability when they shop.”
Thanks Volcom! Visit shop.volcom.com or
pop along to your local Volcom retailer.
Get involved!
VISIT OUR NEW WEBSHOP...
10%
FOR OFF
ME SOS
MB
ERS
Our online store re-launched in February thank you tictoc for doing a great job. With
t-shirts, toys (right), soaps and more, there
are great items on offer, all profits to SOS.
SOS members get 10% off too - if you’ve
already joined check your cover letter for the
code. www.orangutans-sos.org/shop
... READ OUR NEW BLOG!
Photo: OIC
A great resource for those interested in all
things orangutan, you’ll find our new blog
at longcall.wordpress.com. Recent posts
include news of the latest orangutan rescues
in Sumatra (left) and an interview with SOS
supporter, comedian Tim Minchin. Do you
fancy being an SOS guest blogger? Send your
ideas to [email protected].
www.orangutans-sos.org
twitter.com/orangutanssos
facebook.com/orangutanssos
In addition to everyone mentioned in JungleVine, SOS would like to thank:
Bale Sampan Gili Terawangan, Big Bubble Dive, Bill Baxter, Blue Water Safari, Claudia Boulton,
Ruthi Brandt, Cathy Brewis, David Chanter, Peter Collins, Alex Crumpton-Taylor, John Day, Alejandra Duarte, Garuda Indonesia Airlines, Lauren Gilhooly, Lisa Hancock, Osnat Hakimi, Tilly Hearn,
Julie Henretty, Sharon Hopkins , Colin Jeffrey, Fiona Mackey, Manta Dive, Trang Nguyen, Howard
Sargent, Quarzia Surfer Girl Bali, Kat Scott and Made Setiawan.
JungleVine editor and design: Claire Baylis
Contributors: SOS, OIC, Rachel Smith and Emma Learner
Printed on recycled paper by