Bianca Nichols organised an orange-free dress day at her Belgrave school to raise money for orangutans.
A BELGRAVE student has spearheaded a school campaign to help save the orangutan.
Bianca Nichols organised an orange coloured 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, and 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 or not palm oil has been used because it is often described and labelled as vegetable oil or a more scientific name,” 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 to 20 years,” Bianca said.
“I love all animals and after learning about the situation orangutans are facing every day, I decided something has to be done to help save these wonderful creatures.”
Bianca is now encouraging others to raise money and awareness for orangutans.
“Orangutans need help and they need lots of donations to save the species,” she said.
Readers can visit www.orangutans. com.au for more information.
