Orange helps orangutans

By Casey Neill
A BELGRAVE student has spearheaded a school campaign to help save the orangutan.
Bianca Nichols organised an orange free dress day at Mater Christi College which raised more than $1200 for Borneo Orangutan Survival.
The 15-year-old encouraged teachers and students to wear orange for a gold coin donation, while an orange themed food and drink stall featured palm oil free products.
“Palm oil is the most severe threat to orangutans,” Bianca said.
“They are facing extinction due to deforestation to make way for palm oil plantations.”
Palm oil is a vegetable oil used in everyday products, such as cakes, chocolate, margarine, soaps and shampoo.
“It is often unclear whether palm oil has been used, because it is often described and labelled as vegetable oil or more scientific names,” Bianca said.
Orangutan habitat is being destroyed at a rate of 300 football fields per hour.
“If this keeps going on it is expected, orangutans will become extinct in 10-20 years,” she said.
“I love all animals and after learning about the situation orangutans are facing every day, I decided something had to be done to help save these wonderful creatures.”
The 15-year-old is encouraging others to raise money an awareness for orangutans.
“Orangutans need help and lots of donations are needed to save the species,” she said.
Readers can visit www.orangutans.com.au for more information.