The 19^th August is International Orangutan Day and there are some very good ways in which you can help orangutans.

Why?  Because the orangutan’s forest is being destroyed so that palm oil plantations can be created in their place.

The Iceland advert was banned for being too political but it’s worth looking at because it shows exactly what we are doing to orangutan’s habitat.

1. Donate

The Orangutan Foundation are looking to save 300 acres for orangutans and you can donate to help them do this here.

The Orangutan Foundation International based in Australia is also looking for donations.

2. Change your buying habits

The Orangutan Foundation International has information on palm oil and how to spot when it is in products you might buy. I’m doing this and looking to decrease my use of palm oil as much as possible.

Look at your normal shopping list and then take a look at  Ethical Consumer’s guide to palm oil – they have a list of the worst offenders when it comes to palm oil.  If you currently buy from the list of worst offenders, you don’t have to go without – just swap them for another product made by a different company. 

On More4 (17 August 2020 at 9pm) there's a programme called Inside the Zoo - Down Under.

The programme focuses on how vets from the Taronga Zoo tried to save wildlife as large bushfires devastated Australia.

Find out how the Zoo helps conservation and what you can do to help Act for the Wild here

Have you seen pictures of the flooding in the UK today?

Parts of the M25 were flooded causing chaos but more worrying for me is the report from Animals Asia and their rescue bears in China who are also affected by flooding. 

As if they didn't have enough to contend with, bears in China (and the people, of course) are facing many flooding, as the above report shows.

You can find out more here but please follow #AnimalsAsia on their social media channels.

Donations to them are always welcome :-) 

The majestic Asiatic lion once roamed across Asia and the Middle East and Asia. But, by the early 1900s, the species had suffered from hunting – so much so that only about 20 remained in Western India. 

Today, numbers are increasing and now there are about 600 Asiatic lions in the Gir Forest.  The problem is that they are very vulnerable to forest fires and to disease.

ZSL is working with the Wildlife Institute of India and the Gujarat Forest Department to ensure the wonderful Asiatic Lion has a future.

4 ways ZSL are helping Asiatic Lions in the Gir Forest

1. Conservation support including training wildlife rangers and training them in using the SMART tool, which was developed by conservation organisations to establish effective patrolling systems, monitor wildlife populations and movements and identify threats such as poaching or disease
   
   
2. Veterinary support – lions have got stuck down wells and come into conflict with people, and the ZSL staff have taught vets vital lifesaving techniques such as how to intubate anaesthetised lions to help them breathe
   
   
3. Working with the Sakkarbaug Zoo where about 40 Asiatic Lions live – some have been injured too much to return to the wild or for other good reasons they live at the zoo. ZSL and the staff at the zoo share best practice and knowledge about the Asiatic Lions.
   
   
4. Education is vital to engage local communities and help them appreciate the importance of lion conservation.

Can I mention also the Lion Trust (who are specialist fund managers) who sponsor ZSL’s Asiatic Lions Campaign.  We need more businesses to get involved like this.  Thank you to the Lion Trust. 

Find out more about the work ZSL is doing with Asiatic Lions here.