Orphaned Orangutan

On Christmas 2017, We went to Borneo, Malaysia. At Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre，I met orangutans at my first time.

Orangutans are our closest relatives in the animal kingdom，sharing almost 97% DNA! But there are only 30,000 or so orangutans left in the world. There are also many orphaned orangutans who need care. Because their mother may died or be hunted.

In the wild, baby orangutans can stay with their mothers for up to 8 years. During this time they learn many important life skills that will prepare them for being independent and having a baby of their own one day. If they loss mothers, baby orangutans are at risk of dying in the wild or being hunted as pets. The center treats many orphaned orangutans and gives them medical care, nutrition and training to help them grow into independent adults and prepared to embark on their journey back to the wild.

Orangutans are under threat due to deforestation, the illegal pet trade and habitat destruction. As we witness the decline of their populations, it becomes crucial for us to take action and play a part in their conservation. One impactful way to contribute to the well-being of these magnificent creatures is through symbolic adoption scheme. The funds generated from symbolic adoptions plays a crucial role in offering a second chance to orphaned, injured, and displaced orangutans.

The adoption funds I raised

I have adopted 4 orphan orangutans since 2017, and become an “Adoptive Parent”.

In order to provide orphaned orangutans medical and nutritional expenses, I decided to raise funds. In 2018, I fulfilled my promise when I adopted Beryl - to provide her living expenses and necessary medical expenses for six years through my personal income. I made some of my paintings into mobile phone wallpaper and postcards. I posted a tweet on the platform of The Society of Canton Nature Conservation. the same time, I recorded four beautiful oboe songs together with my oboe teacher and made them into CDS. Through these works and the promotion, I won the support of a large number of friends who love Beryl and care about nature.I raised 3269.80RMB for Beryl through my paintings and Oboe performance CDs.

The CD of 《原（猿）生之璎 for Beryl》

Mobile phone wallpaper made of 5 paintings

Postcards made of 13 paintings

When Beryl completed her rehabilitation and began her life in the wild in July, 2020, I have donated all the money left to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre for Orphaned Orangutan and Orangutan rehabilitation Project.

After that, I continue to adopt another three orphaned orangutans. In order to raise them, I work part-time in my summer holidays. The orangutans I adopted have different stories and different destination, and some of them recovered and were released to the wild, and some were suffering from diseases and died.

I hope we can learn something from their stories.