Sumatran Orangutan Society
Komodo has been a proud supporter of the Sumatran Orangutan Society since the early 90's when Joe first met and became inspired by their founder, the late and great Lucy Wisdom.
BLACK ORANGE FRIDAY
For every £10 you spend with us, we will pay for the planting of a tree onto former palm oil plantations in Sumatra. This is part of our ongoing reforestation programme through S.O.S, reclaiming and restoring natural rainforest ecosystems.
This applies to all orders placed on this website until Tuesday 27th November 2018
Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered. As their rainforest habitat is cleared for farmlands and roads, these gentle apes, one of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, is being pushed to the edge of extinction.
SOS is dedicated to turning this situation around.
SOS works to protect orangutans, their forests and their future.
They do this by:
1) Supporting grassroots projects that empower local people to become guardians of the rainforests. SOS and their partners help communities living adjacent to orangutan habitat to understand and embrace their role in protecting the forests. They have built a network of ‘conservation villages’ in Sumatra – communities who are taking action to support the protection of the Leuser Ecosystem. Working closely with them to develop bespoke ‘conservation action plans’, these forward-thinking communities have identified ways to help save orangutans and create sustainable livelihoods at the same time. Examples include agroforestry, permaculture, and tree nursery management.
2) Restoring damaged orangutan habitat through tree planting programmes. Working with local communities since 2008 to restore and protect this precious habitat, undoing the damage caused by illegal conversion for agriculture, especially oil palm plantations, they have planted more than 1.5 million tree seedlings to date, and wildlife is returning to these once-barren landscapes.
3) Orangutan rescue, rehabilitation and release: As a critically endangered species, every orangutan life is precious. SOS established and support the orangutan rescue team in Sumatra, who evacuate isolated orangutans, trapped in condemned forests that are being targeted by bulldozers, and return them to safe forests, as well as rescuing orangutans from the illegal pet trade. Orphaned or injured orangutans need longer-term care and rehabilitation before they can have a second chance at life in the wild, so they also support this vital work.
4) Campaigning on issues threatening the survival of orangutans in the wild. SOS are committed to finding genuine solutions which break the link between development and deforestation, and their campaigns tackle the critical issues which are threatening orangutans and their last remaining habitat, especially deforestation by the palm oil industry and the illegal pet trade.
Hati - a life sized Orangutan sculpture - at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2011, which was donated by Komodo and sold at auction, the proceeds going to S.O.S.
Sumatran orangutan: Conservation status
The Sumatran orangutan is listed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as Critically Endangered in their Red List of Threatened Species. With only an estimated 14,600 individuals surviving in the wild the Sumatran orangutan is also now listed as one of the “World’s Top 25 Most Endangered Primates”.
In just 25 years, 48% of forests in Sumatra were lost, due to the development of plantations, roads and logging, with devastating consequences for biodiversity. Further forest loss is likely to condemn this incredible species, one of mankind’s closest relatives, to inevitable extinction.
Komodo: Supporting the protection of primary forests, vital orangutan habitat
SOS campaigns internationally for the long-term protection of the Sumatran orangutan, including targeted campaigns against the direct threats to orangutan habitat. Their primary aim is to stop any more forests from falling.
Komodo is supporting this aspect of their work, which is absolutely vital if we are to secure a future for orangutans in the wild, and reduce or eliminate the need for rescue centres and forest restoration programmes.
Here's a poem titled "Jungle Man" by Joe Komodo, in his own inimitable style, about the plight of our not-so-distant ginger cousins...
Orang-Utan means 'Jungle Man '... He's our closest Ape Relation,
Family ties? ...nope, Greed 'n' Lies and yet more de-forestation.
His Eviction - lets vote and choose...
Every which way but Loose !
For I 'n' I must protect one another.
Joe Komodo says... "S.O.S.! 'coz I'm a Jungle Brother !"
To find out more about SOS and get involved:
Website: orangutans-sos.org / Facebook: OrangutansSOS / Twitter: @OrangutansSOS