Mark Swift
128 Ratcliffe Road
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 1LH

darth_swift@yahoo.co.uk

My name is Mark Swift and I am a resident of Loughborough, Leicestershire. I was wondering if you could help me with a project that I am undertaking.

In March 2005 I will be walking from John O’Groats to Lands End in 21 Days to raise much needed money for the Orangutan Foundation. The aim of the Orangutan Foundation is to protect the Orangutan and to conserve its rainforest habitat whilst caring for and repatriating ex-captive Orangutan back into the wild. The Orangutan Foundation seeks to actively lobby governments and educate the public about the Orangutan and its habitat so that it might be saved from extinction. It is believed that if something isn’t done and the decline in Sumatran Orangutan continues at the current rate, they will be extinct within a decade.



My aim is to walk an average of 50 miles a day with a one day break half way through to rejuvenate.



I am trying to drum up support from companies and organisations both nationally and internationally . I would be extremely grateful if you could help in one of the following ways:-



Sponsorship - pledge a sum of money to be paid on completion.

Promotion - I would love to do interviews and anything that will promote the event. Or maybe you could advertise the event in your magazine/web page.

Trek Support – donate equipment for use on the trek.

Come Along – do the walk with me and help to raise money



I plan on doing interviews for local newspapers and radio stations and will mention sponsors and helpers as often as possible during these interviews. I am aiming for some news coverage both now and at the time of the event in the local news and maybe even the national news if I can get enough support.



Thank you very much for your time. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours hopefully

Mark Swift
128 Ratcliffe Road
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 1LH
darth_swift@yahoo.co.uk

Orangutan Foundation, 7 Kent Terrace, London NW1 4RP. Registered Charity No. 1095660

http://www.orangutan.org.uk/#



The aim of the Orangutan Foundation is to protect the orangutan and to conserve its rainforest habitat whilst caring for and repatriating ex-captive orangutans back into the wild. The Orangutan Foundation seeks to actively lobby governments and educate the public about the orangutan and its habitat so that it might be saved from extinction.



Orangutans are in grave danger of extinction because their rainforest habitat is vanishing at an unprecedented rate. The biggest threat is permanent agriculture in the form of palm oil plantations and more recently illegal logging and gold mining within protected areas.

The aim of the Orangutan Foundation is to protect the orangutan and to conserve its rainforest habitat whilst caring for and repatriating ex-captive orangutans back into the wild. The Orangutan Foundation seeks to actively lobby governments and educate the public about the orangutan and its habitat so that it might be saved from extinction.


Background
The orangutan was once found throughout Southeast Asia but now the species only survives in relic populations on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Orangutan populations have declined by 50% over the last ten years and their habitat by 80% over the last twenty years. Recent estimates suggest that wild orangutan numbers could be as low as 15,000. At this rate of decline the wild orangutan will be extinct in 10-20 years.



The Orangutan Foundation, established in 1991, is an international chapter of the Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) which was founded in 1986 by Dr. Biruté Galdikas, recognised as the world’s leading expert on orangutans. Dr. Galdikas embarked upon her study of wild orangutans, now in its 30th year, with the encouragement of the late, renowned Dr. Louis Leakey. Dr. Leakey also supported Jane Goodall’s study of chimpanzees that has spanned 40 years, and the late Dian Fossey’s 19 year study of mountain gorillas.

The Foundation actively conserves the orangutan and its habitat whilst conducting long term research on the ecology of orangutans and other fauna and flora within their rainforest habitat. Our objectives are to deliver an educational programme in the UK, fundraise and increase public awareness.


The Orangutan Foundation has been successful in developing relationships with both the media and other conservation bodies. The most recent television coverage was the Discovery Channel’s ‘Adopt A Wild Animal’ programme screened in November 2001. The programme featured Director Ashley Leiman discussing the orangutans endangered status and appealed to a world-wide audience to adopt endangered animals. The BBC screened ‘Planet For The Apes’ in April 2001, the orangutan footage for which was filmed in Tanjung Puting National Park with Ashley.


Past television coverage includes an ‘In the Wild’ series programme featuring Julia Roberts with the orangutans of Tanjung Puting, screened in July 1998 and ‘Blue Peter’ (BBC, 1997). Publicity support has been provided by well-known fantasy writer and Orangutan Foundation UK trustee, Terry Pratchett, author and chef, Jane Asher and TV’s Michaela Strachan, Chris Packham and Shauna Lowry. The UK Foundation has also produced an educational documentary film, ‘Orangutan - The Forest Ape.’

Recent accomplishments
In 1997 the OFI, through the influence of Dr. Galdikas, was instrumental in securing a one third (100,000 hectare) increase in the size of Tanjung Puting National Park. In addition to this Dr. Galdikas successfully lobbied the Indonesian Government for a wildlife reserve in Central Kalimantan. Lamandau is the new orangutan release site consisting of 76,000 hectares of expired logging concession. So far this year 16 rehabilitated orangutans have been released into this protected area.

Another vital development took place in 1998 when the Foundation, in conjunction with the Ministry of Forestry, founded an urgently needed Orangutan Care Centre in Central Kalimantan. This provides a quarantine area and clinic for the treatment and rehabilitation of confiscated orangutans. The Care Centre complements the work of the rehabilitation centres in Borneo and Sumatra which, since 1971, have returned close to 1000 orphaned orangutans to the forest. However, it must be stressed that rehabilitated orangutans will never replace the wild population.



Our current projects are: -

Maintaining Camp Leakey, the orangutan research site established nearly 30 years ago by Dr. Galdikas, and expanding its facilities for scholars and eco-tourists.

Rescuing orphaned and injured orangutans and rehabilitating them, ready for a life in the wild. Currently 170 orphaned orangutans are being cared for.

Educating young Indonesians on the value of Indonesia’s rainforests and their importance in terms of the survival of the endangered wild orangutan.

Providing funds for additional monitoring units to work with the local police in patrolling the Park to combat illegal logging and mining.

Restoring illegally logged and otherwise degraded rainforest, as well as former slash-and-burn fields, by planting light-tolerant canopy species in areas adjacent to the park.

Devising an eco-development programme, stimulating non-timber related industries, in the locality of the Park for up to 1000 people.

The Orangutan Foundation is a partner of the United Nations Environmental Programme, Great Ape Survival Project (GrASP).

The only way to save the orangutan is to save the forest itself - our primary aim!

Saving Orangutans In and Around Tanjung National Park:-
The Orangutan Foundation's Strategy

Guard Posts:

The Foundation has constructed a series of guard post along rivers, to prevent their use by illegal loggers. This has been the single most effective tactic in protecting TPNP.

Orangutan Care Centre and Quarantine:

By facilitating the confiscation of illegally held orangutans, our rehabilitation programme allows the law to be enforced. The Centre currently employs over 100 local people as carers and support staff.

Rehabilitation and Release:

The release of orangutans into the Lamandau Nature Reserve gives us a visible reason to increase the protection to the threatened forests. The area is large enough to support a viable population, thus allowing rehabilitated orangutans a life in the wild, where they belong.

Ecotourism and Sustainable Livelihoods:

The future of the orangutan rests ultimately, with the people of Indonesia. The Foundation encourages the development of environmentally friendly employment and income generating opportunities, to lessen the demands local people make on the forest. Foremost amongst these is the generation of ecotourism opportunities, using responsible partners, like Discovery Initiatives.

Research:
Though not essentially a conservation activity by itself, the gains that are made through having a long established scientific programme are substantial. The employment opportunities are significant, and by raising the international profile of the orangutan more pressure can be exerted on the Indonesian Government to save them.

Mobile Patrols:

Foundation Assistants regularly patrol the Park, checking for signs of illegal activities. Sometimes our staff will accompany Police, Army or Park Ranger units on their patrols.

Education:

Our local education programme takes the form of school visits, field trips, radio shows, newspaper articles and community liaison visits. It is not just about teaching – it is inspiring people to care.