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The sights and sounds of Southeast Asia’s rainforests will be...

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The sights and sounds of Southeast Asia’s rainforests will be carried live on Facebook and Twitter on June 2 as part of “Rainforest: Live,” a campaign designed to raise awareness of the region’s endangered ecosystems and species. Spearheaded by the Orangutan Tropical Peatland Trust, “Rainforest: Live” will comprise the uploads of 11 organizations working in Southeast Asia. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1kQvRhw. http://ift.tt/1jA62xG






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The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has been honored by The...

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The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has been honored by The Sustainable City Awards 2013/2014, the UK’s foremost sustainability awarding body, for its work in Responsible Waste Management and Resource Consumption. ZSL is currently working towards 99% landfill avoidance for 2016 – while recycling, reusing or composting 98% of its waste. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1wx72fR http://ift.tt/1wx74Ev






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The North Carolina Zoo is shipping out its five gorillas to try...

- Thursday 29 May 2014 No Comments




The North Carolina Zoo is shipping out its five gorillas to try to better meet their psychological and emotional needs.

The move will allow the young males to see adult male role models has was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Gorilla Species Survival Plan.

Plans for the move come eight months after the death of Nkosi, the 21-year-old father of Bomassa and Apollo. They are less than two years old.


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An infant male chimpanzee that was confiscated from poachers in...

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An infant male chimpanzee that was confiscated from poachers in the Niari region of southwestern Congo is adjusting to life at the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Centre near Pointe Noire. “Willy,” who is named after one of Tchimpounga’s senior caregivers, arrived depressed, hungry and afraid. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1rj1s0A http://ift.tt/1tpB5Se






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One of the world’s largest producers of palm oil predicts that...

- Wednesday 28 May 2014 No Comments




One of the world’s largest producers of palm oil predicts that the market for certified sustainable palm oil will rise sharply when new European Union labeling requirements go into effect in December. Sime Darby forecasts a 25% growth in the market. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1wktBEw http://ift.tt/1tOEjAN






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#Event Come June 21, the Rwanda Development Board will host the...

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#Event Come June 21, the Rwanda Development Board will host the Tenth Kwita Izina, naming sixteen baby gorillas, the newest arrivals born after last year’s naming ceremony. In line with the United Nations World Tourism Organization – World Tourism Day theme, the theme for 2014 is Kwita Izina – a decade: “Conserving – Empowering – Growing”.


This will be an opportunity to celebrate the registered 26,3% of Gorilla population growth in the years since the last census in 2010.


The 10th Kwita Izina, like all previous Kwita Izina events, is a weeklong ceremony encompassing additional activities such as accommodation grading, conservation and community exhibition, regional tourism business to business forum, a children’s competition and Kwita Izina international exchange, culminating in the naming ceremony followed by a business dinner http://ift.tt/1hd97cO






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Testing vaccines on captive chimpanzees to protect wild...

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Testing vaccines on captive chimpanzees to protect wild chimpanzees—Is It Worth It?

In 2006, it was estimated that recent #Ebola outbreaks have killed around a third of the world’s #gorilla population—some 5,000 apes in the Republic of the Congo—and a slightly smaller proportion of the world’s wild chimpanzees.

Read more: http://goo.gl/vp64vq http://ift.tt/1mjBFi3






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An infant male Bornean orangutan was rescued by the Centre for...

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An infant male Bornean orangutan was rescued by the Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP) this week near the same village in Kotim, Central Kalimantan, where a confiscation occurred days before. Nicknamed “Jambrong,” this orangutan is so young that he can barely eat solid food. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1nEF0Jn. http://ift.tt/1h7X14F






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Two infant Bornean orangutans and a gibbon that were being...

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Two infant Bornean orangutans and a gibbon that were being illegally held in Central Kalimantan were rescued this week by the Center for Orangutan Protection’s APE Crusader Team. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1nEF0Jn. http://ift.tt/1oDsSJY






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Ihirwe, the orphaned Grauer’s gorilla, is carried away...

- Monday 26 May 2014 No Comments




Ihirwe, the orphaned Grauer’s gorilla, is carried away from the UN MI 8 helicopter after landing in her native DR Congo on May 19. (Photo courtesy Gorilla Doctors / Marcus Westberg). http://ift.tt/1tdwoei






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From Unknown to Queen – the Journey of a Special...

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From Unknown to Queen – the Journey of a Special Chimpanzee.

Spending just a few minutes in her presence lets you in on why her caregivers refer to her as the Queen of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.

Find out why she is referred to as the queen here: http://goo.gl/7qXWUA http://ift.tt/1kEjV2r






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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers...

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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers in Rwanda three years ago, was airlifted home to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on, May 19 by United Nations peacekeepers in a transfer coordinated by a coalition of conservation partners that included the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN), Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (Fossey Fund), Gorilla Doctors, Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center, Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), and Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Read more here http://goo.gl/G1TwsA http://ift.tt/1meVirg






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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers...

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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers in Rwanda three years ago, was airlifted home to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on, May 19 by United Nations peacekeepers in a transfer coordinated by a coalition of conservation partners that included the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN), Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (Fossey Fund), Gorilla Doctors, Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center, Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), and Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Read more here http://goo.gl/G1TwsA http://ift.tt/1w7u8cO






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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers...

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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers in Rwanda three years ago, was airlifted home to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on, May 19 by United Nations peacekeepers in a transfer coordinated by a coalition of conservation partners that included the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN), Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (Fossey Fund), Gorilla Doctors, Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center, Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), and Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Read more here http://goo.gl/G1TwsA http://ift.tt/1ijQ8rA






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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers...

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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers in Rwanda three years ago, was airlifted home to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on, May 19 by United Nations peacekeepers in a transfer coordinated by a coalition of conservation partners that included the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN), Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (Fossey Fund), Gorilla Doctors, Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center, Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), and Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Read more here http://goo.gl/G1TwsA http://ift.tt/1ijQ8rq






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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers...

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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers in Rwanda three years ago, was airlifted home to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on, May 19 by United Nations peacekeepers in a transfer coordinated by a coalition of conservation partners that included the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN), Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (Fossey Fund), Gorilla Doctors, Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center, Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), and Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Read more here http://goo.gl/G1TwsA http://ift.tt/1w7u3Wz






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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers...

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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers in Rwanda three years ago, was airlifted home to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on, May 19 by United Nations peacekeepers in a transfer coordinated by a coalition of conservation partners that included the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN), Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (Fossey Fund), Gorilla Doctors, Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center, Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), and Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Read more here http://goo.gl/G1TwsA http://ift.tt/1ijQ5fo






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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers...

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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers in Rwanda three years ago, was airlifted home to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on, May 19 by United Nations peacekeepers in a transfer coordinated by a coalition of conservation partners that included the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN), Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (Fossey Fund), Gorilla Doctors, Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center, Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), and Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Read more here http://goo.gl/G1TwsA http://ift.tt/1w7u1hn






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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers...

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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers in Rwanda three years ago, was airlifted home to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on, May 19 by United Nations peacekeepers in a transfer coordinated by a coalition of conservation partners that included the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN), Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (Fossey Fund), Gorilla Doctors, Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center, Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), and Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Read more here http://goo.gl/G1TwsA http://ift.tt/1w7u2lA






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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers...

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An endangered female Grauer’s gorilla, confiscated from poachers in Rwanda three years ago, was airlifted home to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on, May 19 by United Nations peacekeepers in a transfer coordinated by a coalition of conservation partners that included the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN), Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (Fossey Fund), Gorilla Doctors, Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center, Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), and Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Read more here http://goo.gl/G1TwsA http://ift.tt/1ijQ6A1






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An infant female Bornean orangutan that had been kept illegally...

- Saturday 24 May 2014 No Comments




An infant female Bornean orangutan that had been kept illegally as a pet in a crude wire cage was rescued by the Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP) this week during a confiscation operation in Central Kalimantan. Nicknamed “Alung,” the orangutan is believed to be approximately 2 years of age, but is extremely small and malnourished. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1nEF0Jn. http://ift.tt/1nfSsF8






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#NewsUpdate Emmanuel de Merode has returned to Virunga National...

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#NewsUpdate Emmanuel de Merode has returned to Virunga National Park. He began in Goma with a visit to the Governor of North Kivu, Julien Paluku, and his cabinet. He then left for the park headquarters at Rumangabo and was greeted by the rangers and their families. ”The work we have begun together is very important to us all” Emmanuel told those in attendance. “No matter what happens, our work must not stop. I want to assure you of my commitment to continue this work, and thank you for the courage and discipline that you have shown in these difficult times.” Emmanuel then proceeded to each major station in the park. http://ift.tt/1t5qBaK






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An adult male Bornean orangutan was relocated by International...

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An adult male Bornean orangutan was relocated by International Animal Rescue (IAR) this week after becoming isolated in a patch of forest that was surrounded by oil palm plantations in Ketapang, Western Borneo. Nicknamed “Hans,” the orangutan was estimated at 15 years of age and extremely thin and malnourished, but healthy enough to be released into the forest near Mount Tarak. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1t1iSdK. http://ift.tt/1t1iSu3






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GRASP mourns the loss of American primatologist Liz Pearson,...

- Thursday 22 May 2014 No Comments




GRASP mourns the loss of American primatologist Liz Pearson, former manager of the Projet Protection des Gorilles (PPG) sanctuary in Gabon, who passed away this week. Pearson was regarded as one of the leading authorities on gorilla rescue, rehabilitation and reintroduction. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1omqtTP. http://ift.tt/1obZkFO






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Joyce, an orphan female chimpanzee, recently struck up a curious...

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Joyce, an orphan female chimpanzee, recently struck up a curious friendship with a toad at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone. She cuddled and kissed and stroked the toad for an extended period, then allowed him to jump down and hop safely back to the forest. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1n4taK4. http://ift.tt/1i80pqP






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An illegal trader with 7 gorilla skulls and 11 chimpanzee skulls...

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An illegal trader with 7 gorilla skulls and 11 chimpanzee skulls was arrested in Cameroon this week, following joint operations between the Last Great Ape Organization (LAGA) and the Government of Cameroon. The Cameroon team tracked the trafficker as he moved the contraband from the south to the capital, Yaounde, marking the second major bust of ape skull dealers in Cameroon this month. For more, visit http://ift.tt/RouHZ5. http://ift.tt/TxKqgx






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Hope in the Heart of Darkness: Huge population of chimpanzees...

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Hope in the Heart of Darkness: Huge population of chimpanzees discovered in the DRC:

This recent study, published in Biological Conservation, describes this new population of chimpanzees, which forms a continuous cultural group inhabiting an area of at least 50,000 square kilometers (19,000 square miles).

Read more: http://goo.gl/5NLjy3 http://ift.tt/1gOBLkb






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Meet Melvin Gumal, winner of the Whitley Award for conservation...

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Meet Melvin Gumal, winner of the Whitley Award for conservation in ape habitats 2014.


Melvin initiated Sarawak’s pioneering Integrated Conservation and Development Project which involved local Iban land owners in protected area management for the first time. He now works with stakeholders at all levels to protect over 2,000 km2 of contiguous orang-utan habitat in Sarawak which is home to the rarest subspecies of Bornean orang-utan

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Will DR Congo allow oil drills into Virunga? Can eco-tourism...

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Will DR Congo allow oil drills into Virunga?

Can eco-tourism save Virunga National Park from being drilled for oil? The resources within this lush, diverse landscape are increasingly tempting as locals grapple with poverty and unemployment.

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Large crowds expected for opening of Simon Skjodt International...

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Large crowds expected for opening of Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center

The $26 million exhibit will allow the public to get an up-close-and-personal look at the threatened species.


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“Virunga,” Orlando von Einsiedel’s stirring film that examines...

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“Virunga,” Orlando von Einsiedel’s stirring film that examines the forces of war, exploration, conservation and history tearing at Africa’s oldest national park, won the “Golden Rock Award ” for the Best Documentary at the 8th Little Rock Film Festival in Arkansas, USA. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1mWqiPs http://ift.tt/1nnPLj8






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The Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP) – which rescues and...

- Tuesday 20 May 2014 No Comments




The Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP) – which rescues and relocates orangutans throughout Borneo – has denied any involvement in the recent transfer of two orphaned orangutans to the Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia. Although news reports claim the orphans had been abandoned by their mother near the Kutai National Forest and are being treated by zoo and COP experts, COP officials believe the orangutans were captured from the wild after their mother(s) were killed. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1jzemDn. http://ift.tt/1i00EnE






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Conserving rainforests and meeting rising demand for palm...

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Conserving rainforests and meeting rising demand for palm oil


Can we have our cake and eat it? Sustainability guidelines based on scientific research can offer confidence that biodiversity is being protected

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Mac, an adult male chimpanzee who slowly worked his way up to...

- Monday 19 May 2014 No Comments




Mac, an adult male chimpanzee who slowly worked his way up to the alpha position following his arrival at the Houston Zoo, USA, in 2010, passed away this week when he failed to recover from sedation administered during a routine health check. Mac was 20. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1mQIhXB. http://ift.tt/1mQIhXE






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An adult male chimpanzee and two female lions were rescued from...

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An adult male chimpanzee and two female lions were rescued from a dilapidated zoo in central Brazil this week and transferred to the Great Ape Project (GAP)-Brazil sanctuary near Sao Paulo. The animals were relocated after a ministerial report made it clear that the Leme Zoo was unable to care for the animals. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1lUamvQ http://ift.tt/1gGF5xD






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The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) – Indonesia has called on...

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The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) – Indonesia has called on Indonesian law enforcement officials to prosecute those who torture orangutans following the confiscation last week of a young captive female Bornean who appeared to have been beaten. “Don’t wait for the dead orangutans,” said WWF coordinator Wiwin Effendy. For more (in Bahasa), visit http://ift.tt/1mM9IBV. http://ift.tt/1nd5L7w






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#GreatApeMoment: Silverback Mountain gorillas are incredibly...

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#GreatApeMoment: Silverback Mountain gorillas are incredibly gentle caretakers, including Rano, who helps Ndizeye stand on two feet in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. (Photo courtesy Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International). For more, visit http://ift.tt/1mLIYBn http://ift.tt/1mLIZFw






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Ambam, the male Western Lowland gorilla whose ability to walk...

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Ambam, the male Western Lowland gorilla whose ability to walk upright like a human being made him a viral video sensation in 2009, recently celebrated his 24th birthday with a gluten-free, sugar-free cake at the Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, U.K. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1sNrQwX http://ift.tt/1mLIXNR






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The Australian government has made good on a $300,000 commitment...

- Sunday 18 May 2014 No Comments




The Australian government has made good on a $300,000 commitment to support the reintroduction of 60 orangutans back into the wild through the BOS / Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre in Borneo. The funding will also support 12 months of post-release monitoring. For more, visit http://ift.tt/1gDrKpW http://ift.tt/1lPQAl7






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