{"id":1387,"date":"2020-01-22T23:55:53","date_gmt":"2020-01-23T04:55:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zoocheck.com\/podcast\/?p=1387"},"modified":"2020-11-30T13:50:51","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T18:50:51","slug":"why-were-sending-orangutans-to-school-how-we-are-hurting-and-helping-one-of-our-nearest-relatives-with-primatologist-dr-anne-russon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoocheck.com\/podcast\/why-were-sending-orangutans-to-school-how-we-are-hurting-and-helping-one-of-our-nearest-relatives-with-primatologist-dr-anne-russon\/","title":{"rendered":"Why We\u2019re Sending Orangutans to School: How We are Hurting and Helping One of Our Nearest Relatives with Primatologist Dr. Anne Russon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Listen as Dr. Anne explains the noble and profound work happening at the Nyaru Menteng Sanctuary in Borneo where Love Nature\u2019s popular series Orangutan Jungle School is filmed: Dr. Anne outlines the intricate and lengthy process of rehabilitating these orphaned great apes for release back into the jungle. <\/p>\n

Dr. Anne describes in-depth the threats facing this remarkable and fascinating species, including deforestation for palm oil plantations, poaching and capture for the illegal pet trade. With wild populations drastically declining, she outlines how crucial it is that we fight to protect them.<\/p>\n

Next, Kathryn and Dr. Anne move into a discussion about great ape intelligence and sentience, and discuss why this species, among the other great ape species -including Gorillas, Chimps and Bonobos – do not belong in captivity. They are autonomous and able to make their own decisions, therefore they should be entitled to protection under the law. This would mean the Orangutans we currently have in captivity would be entitled to better care in a sanctuary style facility.<\/p>\n

They discuss the specific case of the granting of personhood by an Argentinian judge to the 33 year-old Orangutan Sandra who was recently moved from the city zoo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the Center for Great Apes sanctuary in Florida where she is thriving and now has access to other members of her species, among many other benefits.<\/p>\n

Kathryn brings up the Orangutans she grew up seeing at the Toronto Zoo, and how startling it is that (despite being the largest zoo in Canada), the Orangutans are displayed in an entirely indoor pavilion and have no exposure to the natural world. Dr. Anne verifies this observation, clarifying that the Orangutans at this zoo have only had access to an indoor exhibit since the zoo opened over 45 years ago. For Puppe, a Sumatran orangutan who has been at the zoo since it first opened in 1974, this means that she has spent 45 out of her 52 years inside the building.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have no option of being outside. It\u2019s now about 40 years that that zoo has been in operation since the mid 1970\u2019s, so 40 years they haven\u2019t seen the outside\u2026 I think it\u2019s terribly sad.\u201d – Dr. Anne Russon<\/p>\n

Kathryn and Dr. Anne conclude their discussion with a focus on what could be done to improve the conditions for these Orangutans, as well as addressing what needs to be done here in Canada and abroad from an animal welfare point of view in order to have the best protections in place for them. Dr. Anne gives her advice for how the average citizen can help too.<\/p>\n

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Be part of the change: <\/h3>\n