New DVD : Orangutan Island - Season 1

A desperate struggle for survival is raging deep in the heart of Borneo's forests. Illegal logging is rapidly destroying the Bornean orangutans' last stronghold in the wild -- leaving hundreds of orangutan babies orphaned and homeless. Their future seems bleak but a ground-breaking project provides real hope for ensuring the survival of the species. Meet the 35 classmates of Forest School 103 at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. These precocious red-haired "children of the forest" will get the opportunity, through this innovative project led by Lone Droscher-Nielsen and her team, to live wild on a protected island. Orangutan Island is the foundation for the largest primate rescue project in the world. Go with them on their journey to adulthood as they struggle to form their own society and learn how to live free on Orangutan Island.

Damrosch L!brary Adopts an Orangutan from the World Wildlife Fund

The only great apes found in Asia, orangutans are found only in the lowland forests of Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia. With 60 percent of their diet consisting of fruit, protection of orangutans’ habitat is vital. Sadly, the lowland forest habitats of these apes are disappearing quickly due to logging and deliberate burning to make way for agriculture and palm oil plantations. WWF and our partners are working to make sure these unique great apes are conserved in well-managed, secure, protected areas, and in wilder forest landscapes connected by corridors.

The plush toy and the adoption certificate.

From a book in our new library collection, Orangutan Rescue by Dougal Dixon: A photo-illustrated story about a young orangutan named Chang, who is taken out of the forest by poachers and, with some help, finds his way back to the wild. Includes a fact file and a glossary.

We have now adopted one each of the great apes.