October 8, 2009 - Santa Monica, CA.  Orangutans, the ginger haired great apes from Southeast Asia, will be the focus of attention during Orangutan Caring Week, November 8-14, 2009. This annual celebration will provide opportunities for the public around the world to learn more about this endangered species. Concerned organizations and individuals will be hosting events highlighting the orangutan, their role in the rainforest environment of Borneo and Sumatra, and their struggle to survive rainforest destruction.

Orangutan Caring Week (OCW) or Pekan Peduli Orangutan (in the Indonesian language), was originally sponsored by the Orang Utan Republik Education Initiative (OUREI) in 2005, following a petition campaign and efforts by OUREI Ambassador Angelina Sondakh, to obtain official recognition of the event by the Indonesian government. On November 16, 2005, Orangutan Caring Week was first officially declared by the Minister of Forestry, M. S. Kaban in Indonesia. Since that time, OCW has grown internationally and particularly in Indonesia where numerous organizations have taken the opportunity to highlight the orangutan and their own organization's efforts to conserve the species. 
 
According to Orang Utan Republik Foundation President Dr. Gary Shapiro, "Orangutan Caring Week provides an excellent opportunity for people and groups to work together on behalf of the species with engaging outreach events.  The idea is to enroll the public to participate in ensuring the future of one of our closest primate relatives." This year, the theme for OCW is "Planting Trees to Increase Future Habitat for the Orangutan." Tree-planting activities are being encouraged in and around orangutan habitat areas on Borneo and Sumatra. The special week also coincides with Orangutan Awareness Week (OAW), which is being celebrated at around the same period. 

Orangutan and conservation organizations are encouraged to collaborate to develop and deliver projects and presentations to the public that tell a story about the orangutan, its plight and what they can do to positively affect the species.  Individuals, likewise, can take a role in promoting a better understanding of the species' plight. Numerous orangutan organizations will be participating. For example, in New Zealand, the Aukland Zoo will be celebrating orangutan Madju's 4^th birthday party and holding a "Great Ape Race" around the zoo. In the UK, the Orangutan Foundation will be holding a children's poetry contest, with an orangutan and rainforest theme. In Indonesia, orangutan and conservation organizations will be holding outreach events in cities on Java, Borneo and Sumatra.

Organizations in Indonesia wanting to participate should contact Mr. Ridhwan Effendi, OUREI Indonesia to coordinate the event. He can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Groups or individuals planning to participate in OCW or OAW are encouraged to contact OURF to better publicize their own events. For more information on OCW, visit www.OrangutanCaringWeek.org 

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