Janey has been a great key conservation ambassador during the San Diego Zoo's daily keeper talks at the Absolutely Apes exhibit. Just under a year ago great apes keeper Juan Fernandez began to develop a conservation package that would help become a pilot program for the rest of the great ape areas of the Zoo. The conservation package includes materials and products that are made of sustainable and/or reused material. These items were used as tools to show Zoo guests options that consumers have for becoming more eco-friendly at home. Also displayed is a poster that illustrates an array of products from cookies to cosmetics that contain palm oil as an ingredient. Deforestation for the production of palm oil plantations in Southeast Asia is the number one threat orangutans face in the wild. With less than 65,000 Sumatran and Borneon orangutans left, it is critical that we help out by simply becoming more conscious consumers.  With Janey and the rest of the orangutan family right on the other side of the glass during the keeper presentations, guests walk away with an appreciation and respects for these complex creatures.

The San Diego Zoo will be celebrating Great Ape Awareness Days November 13-16, 2008. There will be six scheduled presentations daily at the orangutan, gorilla and bonobo exhibits. Each presentation will focus on issues great apes face. For the presentation schedule please visit, www.sandiegozoo.org/calendar/zoo_ape_week.html.

Hope to see you there.