Orangutans are an excellent creature. We share 97% of our DNA with them, which makes them our closest 'wild' relative. They live in the Oil Palm tree, which is the same plant in which Palm Oil is produced from.
Palm Oil is a regularly used product found in 50% of products found on the supermarket shelves. It is hardly ever labeled 'Palm Oil,' for it is usually labeled 'Vegetable Oil.' If you are eating something labeled 'Vegetable Oil,' there is a 70% chance that you are eating 'Palm Oil.' Complicated, isn't it? Not really.
In South East Asia alone, the equivalent of 300 football fields are deforested every hour. Amazing, isn't it, in a bad way.
So ask yourself, can I help? I hop the answer is yes, because if we continue at this rate, all Orangutans will be extinct by the year 2023. This means you children, and your grandchildren may never get to see one in the whole lifetime. That's horrible!
For more information please visit Zoos Victoria.
Hi Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your concerns about the orangutans. They are certainly amazing creatures. I didn't know about the Oil Palm Tree so you have taught me something there!
Enjoy your blogging!
Love, Bronny