What:
As part of its effort to involve the public in orangutan conservation efforts, Woodland Park Zoo is celebrating the Ninth Annual International Orangutan Awareness Week. Media are invited to photograph the endangered apes receiving treats at the outdoor Orangutan Forest. If it rains, the orangutans will receive the treats in the interior portion of the exhibit that is behind glass. Keepers will be available to answer questions about orangutans and to provide insight into Woodland Park Zoo’s orangutan conservation efforts.

When:
Photo op: Tuesday, November 9, 11:30 a.m.
Zoo event: Saturday, November 13, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Docents to answer questions.
11:30 a.m.: Keeper talk.
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.: Keepers to answer questions.

Where:
Meet at the zoo’s ARC building near the West Gate at N. 55th St. & Phinney Ave. N. Staff will escort you to the Orangutan Forest in the Trail of Vines.

Info:
Orangutan Awareness week is free with zoo admission. For general zoo information, log on the zoo’s Web site at www.zoo.org or call 206.684.4800. For more information about orangutans and orangutan conservation, visit www.iowagreatapes.org.

Other:
Members of the zoo’s orangutan group include: 36-year-old Towan; 36-year-old Chinta; 32-year-old Melati; 22-year-old Belawan, daughter of Towan and Melati; and 15-year-old Heran, son of Towan and Melati. Woodland Park Zoo is involved in orangutan research and conservation in the wild. Zoo staff traveled throughout Indonesia doing tissue sampling of wild and captive orangutans. This study confirmed that the two orangutan subspecies are very different genetically, and should be managed separately. Today, they are not allowed to interbreed.

Why orangutans are endangered:
(info found at www.iowagreatapes.org)

• Once found throughout the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, most of the remaining orangutans survive in small pockets of habitat on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. The continued loss of their habitat is the primary threat to the orangutans' existence in the wild.
• In 1990, the world population of orangutans was estimated to be about 315,000. Today, there are most likely no more than a total of about 60,000 orangutans remaining in the wild.
• The combined effect of habitat conversion, conflict with humans, and illegal poaching has devastated the wild population of orangutans on both Sumatra and Borneo. Field workers estimate that orangutans may disappear from the wild within 10-15 years. All of the great apes are facing similar threats, although the situation for orangutans is currently the most desperate.
• Making the situation even worse is that large stretches of converted habitat (such as palm oil plantations) carve the forest into smaller and smaller patches, which isolates populations of orangutans. As a result, these apes may be unable to find mates, food, or even suitable trees in which to live. Hunger may force the orangutans to leave the forest, and venture into agricultural areas, or smaller garden plots tended by local people. Inevitably, these orangutans come into conflict with local people, and may be seriously injured or killed in the process.
• A thriving illegal trade still exists for baby orangutans in many parts of the world. Adult females are routinely hunted and killed so that their baby may be captured and sold into the pet trade or for entertainment. Experts estimate that for every baby that ultimately survives, at least two or three others die in the process (as well as their mothers).
• Adults without babies are also hunted. Their skulls may be sold as souvenirs, and they may also be sold for meat.
• There is hope: conservationists are working in Indonesia and Malaysia who are committed to habitat preservation, as well as rehabilitation and reintroduction of orangutans that have been illegally taken from the forest. Orangutans are also thriving in high-quality zoos throughout the world. The international zoo population of orangutans currently stands at about 900 individuals.

Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, top award-winning Woodland Park Zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting a standard for zoos all over the world. With conservation, education and excellent animal care at the core of the zoo’s mission, the zoo is helping to save endangered species in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring visitors and others to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s future.