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.

Damrosch L!brary Adopts a Chimpanzee from the World Wildlife Fund

One of the most well known apes, the chimpanzee lives in the forests and savannahs of equatorial Africa. Highly intelligent, chimpanzees hunt cooperatively and use tools, such as branches and sticks, to forage for food. These omnivores survive on a diet of ripe fruits, young leaves, stems, roots, seeds, bark and insects. Once found in 25 African countries, chimpanzees are now extinct in three or four and are nearing extinction in others due to deforestation and commercial hunting for bush meat. All four subspecies of chimpanzee are endangered.
The plush toy and the adoption certificate.

And from the library's collection: On the occasion of Goodall's 40th anniversary of groundbreaking research with the chimpanzees of Gombe, this beautifully illustrated volume traces her work from its singular beginnings to the Jane Goodall Institute's present-day international activities. 65 full-color and 30 duotone photos.

Damrosch L!brary Adopts a Gorilla from the World Wildlife Fund

Western lowland gorillas inhabit the vast tropical and subtropical forests of Central Africa. Gorillas are herbivorous, feeding on fruit, shoots, bulbs, leaves and occasionally tree bark. They live in family groups that are led by one dominant male, called the silverback because of the silver hair that runs down his back. With threats such as poaching, habitat loss and disease, WWF is supporting protected areas and other conservation programs across the lowland gorilla’s range to ensure that no population is neglected.
The plush toy and the adoption certificate.

When the library opens, we will read books about gorillas to learn more about them. Here's one from the library's new collection:

Presents a full-color-illustrated examination of the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda, and describes the effects of human exposure on the gorillas, how emergency medical care is provided to them in the wild, and ways to protect their species from poachers and common human diseases.