Orangutan Caring Week - 12-20 November 2011
November 8, 2011 - Santa Monica, CA - Orangutans, the intelligent and acrobatic, red-haired great apes of Southeast Asia, will be celebrated by humans across the globe at activities during the 6th annual Orangutan Caring Week. The species, found only on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, are favorites of zoo visitors; however, their future is uncertain. Declining numbers continue to worry researchers, wildlife managers and conservationists who are concerned about increased likelihoods of localized extinctions in regions where their habitat is being converted to agriculture and the animals are being hunted. Orangutan Caring Week is a collaborative and positive way to get people, particularly in Indonesia, to appreciate the many fascinating characteristics of the species, understand their current plight, and develop a caring attitude such that the orangutan will be seen as a national treasure worth saving.
Award Winning Nuubia Chocolat forms Strategic Partnership with Orang Utan Republik Foundation
21 September 2011 - Santa Monica, CA. Nuubia Chocolat, artistic creators of environmentally responsible chocolate confections, has announced a strategic partnership with Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF). This partnership will help strengthen OURF’s efforts in building support from ethical businesses committed to true sustainability and conservation education. Nuubia Chocolat demonstrated their initial commitment at OURF’s Annual Fundraiser by providing chocolates to the VIP guests and offering a live auction prize of a chocolate-making class at their Pleasanton, California kitchen. Alexandra Saunders , President of Nuubia Chocolat plans to continue supporting the goals of OURF as the company grows market share of their exquisite French chocolates. Having been raised in Indonesia, Ms. Saunders understands the plight of the orangutan and how sourcing “orangutan safe” ingredients can contribute to the species’ long-term survival. OURF President Gary Shapiro is excited about the partnership, and sees it as a cutting-edge issue. “We applaud small companies that are mindful of their impact on environment and biodiversity as they seek to create and market quality products” stated Shapiro.
Apps for Apes: A new program to enrich the lives of orangutans in captivity
8 Sept 2011 - New York, NY- Captive orangutans are extremely intelligent animals that for various reasons spend considerable time alone within their enclosures. Sometimes their mood or health requires they be kept isolated, and cold weather in northern states can keep them indoors for long periods of time. Many orangutans appear to be bored with little to occupy their clever minds.
In a proposed pilot program to address this issue, the orangutan advocacy group Orangutan Outreach has created a new program called "Apps for Apes". Working with several institutions housing orangutans, Orangutan Outreach is seeking to acquire iPads and prepare them for deployment to an initial group of orangutans to test the devices.
"Our primary goal with this project is to provide enrichment for the orangutans," said Orangutan Outreach Director Richard Zimmerman. "But another important goal is to raise public awareness of the crisis facing orangutans in the wild due to habitat loss and poaching. We hope that when people see the orangutans using their iPads, they will see orangutans in a new light and want to help with our conservation efforts in the field."
Ed Begley Jr. Hosts Successful Orang Utan Republik Fundraiser
August 11, 2011– Chistine Peake, LA Charity Examiner - Los Angeles, CA
Two hundred guests participated in the recent Orang Utan Republik Foundation's Annual Fundraiser, which was a huge success again this year. Guests included activist & actor Ed Begley Jr, a staunch supporter of the Foundation. Everyone's favorite weather man Fritz Coleman spoke to the audience regarding the terrible plight of the Orangutan, as guests watched an educational video highlighting the serious issue, which sadly needs a lot more attention. The Door's drummer John Densmore sang a beautiful spiritual folk song and encouraged the guests to participate which was a huge treat, (how many people can say they sang with the Doors?), star of Super 8 , Gabriel Basso stopped by and gladly participated in an impromtu Q & A with Fritz Coleman regarding the release of his latest summer blockbuster movie. Tom Kenney aka SpongeBob Squarepants was a huge hit with the guests and made 12 year old Oliver Peake's night as he spoke to him in the hilarious character's voice loved by all. Actress Debi Derryberry aka Jimmy Neutron was the perfect gracious host to all who attended as she welcomed guests into her beautiful home, which she had kindly shared for the event.
Orang Utan Republik Concludes Farmer's Market Outreach
28 June 2011 - Santa Monica, CA. The Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) will no longer be conducting monthly outreach at the Brentwood Farmer's Market. Instead, OURF will be participating in occasional outreach event opportunities, such as Go Green Expo, and other appropriate venues to meet and educate the general public. OURF President Gary Shapiro said, "while the Farmer's Market has been a wonderful way to get outdoors to meet the local people, the level of interest shown at the market in recent months hasn't been enough to justify continuing the effort."
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