The challenge of saving the orangutan – man’s closest relative – from extinction is trickling down to the weekly shop. Many of the biscuits, margarines, breads, crisps and even bars of soap that consumers pick off supermarket shelves contain an ingredient that is feeding a growth industry that conservationists say is killing the orangutans.

The mystery ingredient in the mix is palm oil – the cheapest source of vegetable oil available – and one that rarely appears on the label of most products. Palm oil is grown on land that was once home to the vast rainforests of Borneo, and the natural habitat of the orangutan.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that the population has declined by 50% in recent decades and the Indonesian government admits that 50,000 orangutans have died as a result of de-forestation.

A BBC Panorama investigation into clear-cutting in Indonesian Borneo – the island it shares with Malaysia – found that the thirst for land on which to plant palm plantations is encroaching on areas that the Indonesian government has deemed to be off-limits.

The orangutans, displaced as the trees of old-growth forests are burned and at times killed by workers who see them as a nuisance in the logging process, are not the only victims of the runaway growth in palm oil – scientists say there is a wider environmental price being paid.

Greenpeace has identified the draining of ancient peat lands to make way for palm oil as a global threat, saying it had lead to massive amounts of trapped methane and carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. As a result, Indonesia is the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, behind only America and China.

ORANGUTAN FACTS

• Orangutan means “old man of the forest” in Malay
• Only apes living outside of Africa
• Largest tree-dwelling mammals

Using GPS technology and satellite imaging, the BBC team pinpointed exact locations where palm oil giant the Duta Palma Group is logging on both high conservation lands and deep peat lands – both are illegal.Shailendra Yashwant, Greenpeace director for Southeast Asia, said this illegal logging is widespread and includes major suppliers to the UK’s food and household product market.

“We want the Indonesian government to immediately announce a moratorium on further deforestation…beginning with peat lands.”

Willie Smits, a former advisor to the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry turned environmental campaigner, said of the findings: “This is criminal, this should not take place. It means there is no hope left for the most endangered sub-species of the orang-utan in west Kalamantan.”

He said the wider environmental issue of greenhouse gases can no longer be overlooked by both manufacturers and everyday consumers.

“This is not just a matter for Indonesia to decide, this is a matter for the world.”

Currently, only 3% of the world’s palm oil is certified sustainable, meaning it comes from plantations that pass an environmental and social impact test. Many have joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) scheme set up to promote certification of where palm oil originates.

Bulk oil from a variety of plantations – including that of Duta Palma Group that the BBC found to be illegally clear-cutting – is mixed together and shipped around the world and sold on to manufacturers behind everyday products. Duta Palma declined to comment on the BBC’s evidence of illegal deforestation.

Many of the sweets and staples in our shopping trolleys contain palm oil. Current labelling laws allow manufacturers to list palm oil as ‘vegetable’ oil, without singling out the palm oil content. However, Sainsbury’s supermarkets had earlier taken the decision to not only single out palm oil on the ingredients lists of their own-brand products, but to state directly that it is from a sustainable source.

Recently Unilever, the UK’s largest user of palm oil in products that range from Dove soap to Pot Noodles, Knorr soups and Flora, terminated a large contract with a supplier called Sinar Mas, because of reports it was destroying high conservation value forests.

We need to make people aware of issues like this that affect others we may not realise, whether they are human or orangutans. If the public are not aware the products they buy are destroying natural habitats then they won’t do anything about it. Help spread this message so we can make a change.

Celebrities are showing their support for an end to animal testing by joining an on-line virtual protest. Comedian Ricky Gervais, actress Joanna Lumley OBE and rockers Brian May CBE and Chrissie Hynde, are joining tens of thousands of people taking part in the virtual march to Brussels where the 20-year old law on animal experiments is up for review by politicians.

‘Mini-me’ virtual characters of Ricky, Joanna, Chrissie and Brian appear in the campaign cheering on the thousands of marchers from across the EU and they hope to persuade thousands more to take part at www.makeanimaltestinghistory.org/march

More than 12 million animals such as rabbits, hamsters, monkeys, cats and dogs, are used in experiments in Europe each year. Many of the experiments can cause physical and mental distress to the animals. Animal lovers across the UK and Europe are taking to cyber-space to demonstrate support for improvements to the 20-year old law on animal experiments. Make Animal Testing History is run by the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research, Four Paws and Humane Society International who are seeking a massive drive to develop non-animal alternative tests to replace the use of animals altogether with humane, 21st-century methods.

Ricky Gervais says: “When I was asked if I’d like to back the campaign to Make Animal Testing History I said “Yes”, immediately, as it is a cause that I am very, very passionate about. When they said it involved a march, I said forget it. But when they said it was a virtual march and I would have to do very little except show my support and give a quote, I jumped at the chance. On a serious note, we need EU politicians to vote for more humane science. With all the non-animal techniques available now and in the future, we really don’t need to hurt animals to make medical progress.”

Joanna Lumley OBE, said: “Join me fabulous walkers, in showing how much we care for the feelings of our fellow creatures, and how soon we long for all animal testing to become a thing of the past. Tell everyone you know how easy it is to sign up, pack some sandwiches and, as Nancy Sinatra so succinctly put it, “Start walking!!!”

Queen guitarist Brian May CBE said: “Humans do not have the right to abuse other animals in any way whatsoever. What on Earth makes us think we are that important? If we want to call ourselves civilised, a change is long overdue. No animal should ever be subjected to indignity or discomfort, far less, a painful death, in the name of science.”

Chrissie Hynde said: “Animal experimentation just doesn’t make sense in the 21st century. It causes suffering to millions of animals and it’s hardly cutting-edge science. Thousands of people are cyber-marching right now to Make Animal Testing History and I’m right there with them cheering them on. Let’s stop filling our laboratories with monkeys and mice and use modern alternative research methods instead. See you on the march!”

Citizens from across Europe are being invited to get e-active by signing an online pledge of support to Make Animal Testing History and creating their own personalised character to join the mass cyber parade through Brussels towards the European parliament. The law will be debated during the coming months by politicians across Europe.

Are you concerned about Animal Rights? Do you want to do something about the suffering of animals in zoos? Then get involved with Zoo Awareness Day!

Every year the Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS) holds Zoo Awareness Day to raise awareness of the suffering of animals in zoos. This is held on Easter Monday, one of the busiest times of the year for zoos. CAPS encourages people to do what they can to highlight the problems of zoos on this day. Examples include:

• Hold a peaceful protest outside a zoo
• Set up an information stall in a city/town centre on or around this day
• Send letters to newspapers calling on people to support wildlife in the wild, not keeping animals in zoos.

By participating in Zoo Awareness Day you can help educate the general public about the suffering caused to animals in zoos and help bring the day closer when ALL animals will be left where they belong – in the wild. We don’t need zoos anymore – if children want to see lions and foreign animals they have high definition tv these days. Keeping these beautiful creatures caged up and bored to tears for our sake is just plain wrong.
Please get in touch with CAPS to see if there is a protest organised at your local zoo. If you are unable to attend a protest, why not write letters to your local or national newspapers or you could even help spread the word in other ways.

CAPS produces leaflets, fact sheets, posters and a video to support our ‘Sad Eyes and Empty Lives’ campaign, which will send to groups free of charge who plan to hold a demonstration or information stall.

Please contact CAPS on 0845 330 3911 or via email info@captiveanimals.org if your need more information or help on Zoo Awareness Day.

Zoo Awareness Day was first started more than 10 years ago by CAPS. This event raises awareness of the animal rights and conservation issues surrounding zoos. The whole concept of zoos is increasingly under question as our knowledge of animal behaviour, natural history and threats facing wildlife increases. Zoos have historically been about tourism, and providing a ‘day out’ rather than anything to do with education, conservation and research.

Many people are now aware of the real lives of wild animal societies, through natural history programmes on TV, books and the internet. An increasing number of TV programmes focussing on wildlife has revealed the wonderful natural history of our own gardens, parks, woods etc, showing that wildlife in our own areas can be as exciting as that of other continents.

The increasing awareness of animal behaviour also reveals further the impoverished lives of animals confined to zoos, and the physical and behavioural problems captivity creates. Zoos also play an insignificant role in conservation, with the protection of natural habitats being the only serious way forward to prevent further losses of species.

Zoo Awareness Day aims to spread this awareness and encourage people to withdraw support for captive animal entertainment facilities. Across the country there will be peaceful protests outside zoos, information stalls in town centres, and people will be writing letters to local and national newspapers to spread this awareness.

For more information on the opposition to zoos see their website:

www.captiveanimals.org/zoos and www.captiveanimals.org/aquarium/suffering.htm

Don’t visit zoos – your money keeps them in business.