Help to protect orangutans in the wild. We have partnered up with the Sumatran Orangutan Society and will be donating a % to them from every orangutan sweatshirt or orangutan wall print sold.
Give a gift that gives back this Christmas.
tommy & lottie baby orangutan design sweatshirt. Available in a soft organic grey marl cotton for both adults and children.
The Sumatran Orangutan Society are an amazing charity who work to protect orangutans and the rainforests of Northern Sumatra. With only 14,600 remaining in the wild due to the relentless destruction of rainforests makes this precious ape extremely vulnerable in becoming extinct. Once widespread throughout the forests of Asia orangutans are now only found on two islands, Sumatra and Borneo.
Helen Buckland, Director of SOS says “We love Tommy and Lottie’s designs, and we love their values – so naturally we’re delighted to launch this partnership. Their gorgeous orangutan sweatshirts will help us protect these amazing animals and their rainforest home.”
Why is it important that we protect Orangutans and their forests?
The orangutan is one of our closet relatives in the animal kingdom, sharing 96.4% of our DNA. Indigenous people of Indonesia and Malaysia call this ape ‘Orang Hutan’ which literally translates as ‘person of the forest’. They are highly intelligent and gentle animals. They use tools and have a fantastic memory, making mental maps of their forest home in order to find fruiting trees throughout the seasons.
As well as thousands of species of animals and plants, more than four million people in Sumatra rely on the existence and preservation of the forests. Without the forest, temperatures would soar, huge amounts of carbon would be released into the atmosphere and many surrounding villages would flood. De-forestation for farmland destroys all manner of natural balances and is one of the biggest drivers of climate change, a danger that affects us all.
Orangutans and other species that share the rain forest play an important part for our eco system. Orangutans are sometimes referred to as ‘gardeners of the Forest’ as they eat hundreds of different of fruits and then plant the seeds throughout the forest in their dung.
Photo by Andrew Walmsley – www.andrewwalmsleyphotography.com
The problem with Palm Oil
Palm oil is found in everyday foods and cosmetics and is contributing to the rapid deforestation in Sumatra. Orangutan habitat is being cleared at an alarming rate to make way for the palm oil plantations as it is a huge income and employment for countries such as Indonesia.
However, if we boycott palm oil this could have an even more devastating effect as it could be replaced by other commodities which require more land, use pesticides and more water to grow so its about producing sustainable palm oil and working with local communities and organisations.
Did you know that Sumatran orangutans are not the only species which are critically endangered? the Sumatran Tiger, Elephant and Rhino are too as they all share the same habitat. The only place on earth where these species live alongside each other.
Buy our orangutan print and we will donate a % of money to SOS.
For more information on Sumatran orangutans and how you can help please refer to the Sumatran Orangutan Society’s website. www.orangutans-sos.org/crisis/
www.tommyandlottie.com
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