Take Action Today

You don't have to work directly with orangutans to make a positive impact on their future! Did you know that there are simple actions that you can take every day that support the conservation of these animals, their habitat, and other species that also call the rainforest home?

Learn how YOU can be a champion for orangutan conservation below!

Getting Started

Reduce, reuse, recycle

From the amount of mail we receive to the amount of paper printed for everyday needs, society uses lot of paper products. Consider ways to reduce your paper consumption by reuse paper products (or replace with an alternative choice such as grocery tote bags instead of paper) and making a conscious effort to recycle when you can.

Advocate

Advocacy is a crucial step in pushing conservation efforts into the national and international dialogue. Consider writing to companies that are not part of the RSPO (scroll down to learn more about RSPO) and ask that they become part of the program and commit to only using sustainable palm oil in their products

Visit an AZA institution

There are over 200 orangutans housed and cared for in zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Consider visiting a zoo that orangutans call home, learning about their care and husbandry, and making a donation to support the work of the zoo.

Find which zoos have orangutans >

Educate others

Become a voice for orangutan conservation by using the power of social media to connect with friends and family. Share stories and messages on International Orangutan Day and throughout the year so others can be aware what they can do to help wild orangutans.

Celebrate Orangutan Day

Join us in celebrating and raising awareness of this iconic endangered species. Download the Orangutan Day toolkit for details on online/in-person activity ideas, crafts, social media posts, and more!

What's the deal with palm oil?

Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil that comes from the fruit of the oil palm tree, Elaeis guineensis, found in the tropical belt of Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of Brazil. It is an incredibly useful oil that can be found in a large bulk of the products we use in our day-to-day lives. While palm oil is extremely effective (and efficient in its extraction), it is currently one of the leading causes in the deforestation of orangutan habitat. The debate on palm oil usage is contentious, but boycotting palm oil will only create a demand for another oil crop to take its place with similar environmental consequences.

So what can you do? A handful of companies have pledged to produce sustainable palm oil and have met a set of strict criteria outlined by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). You can protect rainforests and help orangutans by being a responsible consumer and committing to purchase products that only use sustainable palm oil. The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) sponsors a free, downloadable app called “Palm Oil Scan” to help you identify orangutan-friendly grocery items. You can also learn more about the work one of our zoo friends at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are doing to promote sustainable palm oil.

Check out more important links below:

A Guide to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's App

AZA's Positionality Statement on Palm Oil

AZA's Statement on Sustainable Palm Oil

Plant a Tree

Support APE Malaysia's program "Restore Our Amazing Rainforest" (ROAR) by donating to plant a treat in Borneo!

How else does the Association of Zoos and Aquariums support the conservation of orangutans?

Orangutan Species Survival Plan

The Orangutan Species Survival Plan (SSP) serves 50+ accredited zoos across the world to help guide the management and sustainability of captive breeding populations of orangutans in human care.

Learn More

Ape Taxon Advisory Group

The Ape TAG works with the individual ape Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs to ensure that ape populations in accredited zoos are properly managed to secure their long-term future and physical and psychological health.