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Madju

Auckland City Council

Media release

27 October 2009

A special birthday party for four-year-old orangutan Madju and the launching of a nationwide ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ campaign on Saturday 7 November (10am – 3pm) will mark the start of Orangutan Caring Week (7 – 14 November) at Auckland Zoo

Party-goers can enjoy free face painting, check out orangutan-related displays, sign Madju’s birthday album, get hands-on and contribute to the zoo’s ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ mural, and sign postcards in support of the campaign.

At 12.30pm, primate keepers will present a special orangutan encounter that will include presents and birthday cake for Madju, and singing him happy birthday.

At 1pm visitors will be able to find out who the winners are in the zoo’s inaugural ‘Palm Oil Free Bake-Off’ and sample their efforts - available for purchase. With competition expected to be fierce, the zoo is delighted to have passionate foodie, internationally renowned Kiwi chef, author and broadcaster, Peta Mathias, joining the judging panel.

“Unfortunately, as we celebrate Madju’s life, the lives of up to 50 orangutans a week are being lost in Borneo and Sumatra. This is primarily due to the destruction of their rainforest habitat for oil palm plantations and illegal logging, and at this current rate of deforestation, we’re faced with the alarming reality that orangutans could be extinct in the wild within12 years,” says the zoo’s Conservation Officer, Peter Fraser.

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Dr Ian Singleton, director of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP), who is giving the Saving the Orangutan talk on Wednesday 11 November

“Our ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ campaign is asking Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to legislate to label palm oil on all food products that contain palm oil (or its derivatives), and we’re hoping all New Zealanders will join us.

“Palm oil is now in one in ten supermarket products, but on most of these products, it’s not labelled. Along with our zoo friends in Australia, Auckland Zoo believes everyone should have the right to make an informed choice about whether or not they want their food purchases to drive the orangutan and many other rainforest species towards extinction,” says Mr Fraser.

From 7 November, New Zealanders can sign the ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ petition online at http://http://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz or a ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ postcard on-site at the zoo.

Throughout Orangutan Caring Week, the zoo’s Wild Zone Gift Shop will be offering an orangutan-themed Story Time at 10am daily, special offers, and the chance to win great prizes.

Other events include Saving the Orangutan – an evening with Dr Ian Singleton, director of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Project (SOCP) on Wednesday 11 November (6.30pm – 9.15pm) at Unitec, and The Great Ape Race at the zoo on Thursday 12 November (6pm – 9pm).

Sumatran-based Dr Singleton has more than 20 years experience working with these critically endangered great apes. His presentation is a rare opportunity to hear first-hand about the current situation facing the orangutan in the wild, and the work that is being done by SOCP (a project the zoo supports) to help ensure its survival.

For the Great Ape Race, the zoo is joining with its friends, Lactic Turkey Events, and inviting everyone along to a fun navigation event for a great cause.

Aucklanders are encouraged to round up their family, friends or workmates to get a team together for an amazing around-the-world race at the zoo – no experience required! Participants need to pre-register for this event, which costs $25 for adults and $10 for children. All profits will support the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Project (SOCP).

Event details

* ORANGUTAN CARING WEEK (7 – 14 November)

* Madju’s Birthday, Saturday 7 November, 10am – 3pm. Rain date - Sunday 8 November. Normal Zoo admission prices apply. Friends of the Zoo, free.

* Saving the Orangutan – an evening with Dr Ian Singleton, director of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Project, Wednesday 11 November, 6.30pm – 9.15pm at Unitec Lecture Theatre 1018 (Building 23). Cost $25 per person (includes refreshments). To book, phone (09) 360 3805

* The Great Ape Race, Thursday 12 November, 6pm – 9pm. Rain date - Friday 13 November. Cost $25 adults, $10 children. Pre-registering required. Visit www.aucklandzoo.co.nz or phone (09) 360 3805. All profits supporting orangutan conservation.

Auckland Zoo thanks Scarborough Fair, Trade Aid, Just Juice, Whittaker’s and Devonport Chocolates for their support of Orangutan Caring Week.

ENDS

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