Elephant poaching
Photo: AFP/Getty
Huffington Post
A resident (R) looks at the carcass of a male Sumatran elephant, its head and trunks mutilated and ivory tusks missing, in Aceh Jaya district on Indonesia’s Sumatra island. According to Natural Resources Conservation Agency the elephant was killed by a booby trap set up by unidentified people.
In the month of May, three elephants were found dead in Tesso Nilo National Park, south of Aceh. Fewer than 3,000 endangered Sumatran elephants remain in the wild, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Rampant expansion of palm oil, paper plantations, and mines, has destroyed nearly 70 percent of the Sumatran elephant’s forest habitat over 25 years, conservationist says, and the animals remain a target of poaching.
TheAnimalBook for Tripa
The Tripa Peat Swamps is home to magnificent orangutans like 2 year-old Rahul. His home is burning at the hands of palm oil companies and he needs your help to stop the fires and save his home.
Please take urgent action today, sign and share the petition calling for immediate action to stop the destruction of Tripa, for a full investigation into all of the companies operating illegally and to revoke all of the permits!
Spread the petition far and wide, never underestimate the power of your friends!!
www.change.org/savetripa
to donate, klik here go to SOCP donation page
klik here to watch the story of Rahul confiscation
Maya and Herkules need a hug!
The Tripa Peat Swamps is home to magnificent orangutans like Maya and Herkules. Their home is burning at the hands of palm oil companies and they need your help to stop the fires and save his home.
Help sign and share the petition, never underestimate the power of your friends!!
Petition www.change.org/savetripa
To donate, klik here to go to SOCP donation page
My Home is On Fire | TheAnimalBook
Photo Courtesy of TheAnimalBook.co
Photo Courtesy of TheAnimalBook.co
A work-in-progress campaign to save the Tripa Peat Swamps. The campaign is in partnership with the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program (SOCP).
“Tripa is home to the highest population density of Orangutans found anywhere on earth” Said Dr Ian Singleton, Conservation Director of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program.”
“In 1990 we estimate there was almost 2000 Orangutans in the Tripa Peat forest, and now today it could be less than 200 due to the ongoing and often illegal clearance of forest through the conversion to palm oil plantations. Satellite imagery obtained shows over 1500 hectares of conversion in the last 6 months in Tripa alone, and our ground team has reported ongoing fires and illegal activity of operations in palm oil concessions despite a central government investigation into their behavior.”
The three remaining coastal peat swamp forests of Aceh, namely Tripa, Kluet and Singkil, are among the most precious natural habitats in the world. They harbour the highest orangutan densities in the world and about 30% of the remaining 6,600 Critically Endangered Sumatran orangutans. They represent vital biological corridors linking the Indian ocean to the dryland rainforests of the rest of the Leuser Ecosystem and the Gunung Leuser National Park, that sits within it (itself a Man and Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site).
These coastal forests also constitute an effective barrier against natural disasters, such as Tsunamis, and play a crucial role in sustainable local livelihoods. Furthermore, peat swamp forests store huge amounts of carbon, both in the above ground vegetation, but also below ground, in the deep peat layers, and their destruction contributes significantly to global climate change. Despite these many assets, two thirds of the Tripa peat swamp forest have already been logged for palm oil plantations. (Source: SOCP)
Tripa Inferno June 2012
multiple high-res photos are also available for download via rapidshare (in .zip format)
This image made available on the 29th of June, showing fire hotspots burning in palm oil concession in Tripa (SOCP/YEL Handouts/Editorial use ONLY)
This photo made available on June 29th, 2012 showing numerous illegally lit fires continue to rage the peat swamp forest of Tripa, SOCP/YEL (Handouts/Editorial use ONLY)
This photo made available on June 29th, 2012 showing numerous illegally lit fires continue to rage the peat swamp forest of Tripa, SOCP/YEL (Handouts/Editorial use ONLY)
Hotspots detected by MODIS satellite in Tripa Peat Swamp between 17-26 June 2012. Plotted on LANDSAT imagery 7 dated June 3rd, 2012
Orangutan Confiscation 16 June 2012 | Paul Hilton Photos
A member of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program team celebrates after a successful confiscation of an infant male orangutan being held illegally, by wildlife traders in a small village on the outskirts of the Tripa peat forest, Aceh Province, Indonesia, 16 June 2012. The orangutan was discovered by an undercover investigation team on the 12th June, and four days later, was successfully confiscated by a team involving staff from the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program, Local Police and Government Authorities. According to Dr Ian Singelton of SOCP the Tripa peat forest is home to the highest population density of Orangutan found anywhere on earth, but predicted to be locally extinct by the end of 2012 if current levels of forest clearing and conversion to plan oil plantation is not stopped immediately. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL (HANDOUT PHOTO, EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
This pictured made available on the 16th of June 2012 shows an infant male orangutan named Chocolate being held illegally by wildlife traders in a small village on the outskirts of the Tripa peat forest, Aceh Province, Indonesia. The orangutan was discovered by an undercover investigation team on the 12th June, and four days later, was successfully confiscated by a team involving staff from the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program, Local Police and Government Authorities. According to Dr Ian Singelton of SOCP the Tripa peat forest is home to the highest population density of Orangutan found anywhere on earth, but predicted to be locally extinct by the end of 2012 if current levels of forest clearing and conversion to plan oil plantation is not stopped immediately. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL (HANDOUT PHOTO, EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
Dr Ian Singelton from the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program poses with an infant male orangutan after it was successfully confiscated from a local wildlife trader in a small village on the outskirts of the Tripa peat forest, Aceh Province, Indonesia, 16 June 2012. The orangutan was discovered by an undercover investigation team on the 12th June, and four days later, was successfully confiscated by a team involving staff from the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program, Local Police and Government Authorities. According to Dr Ian Singelton of SOCP the Tripa peat forest is home to the highest population density of Orangutan found anywhere on earth, but predicted to be locally extinct by the end of 2012 if current levels of forest clearing and conversion to plan oil plantation is not stopped immediately. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL (HANDOUT PHOTO, EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
Local police and the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program team celebrate the successful confiscation of an infant male orangutan being held illegally by wildlife traders in a small village on the outskirts of the Tripa peat forest, Aceh Province, Indonesia, 16 Juen 2012. The orangutan was discovered by an undercover investigation team on the 12th June, and four days later, was successfully confiscated by a team involving staff from the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program, Local Police and Government Authorities. According to Dr Ian Singelton of SOCP the Tripa peat forest is home to the highest population density of Orangutan found anywhere on earth, but predicted to be locally extinct by the end of 2012 if current levels of forest clearing and conversion to plan oil plantation is not stopped immediately. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL (HANDOUT PHOTO, EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
Orangutan Evacuation June 2012 | Paul Hilton Photo
The picture made available on the 29 June 2012, shows A young adult male orangutan is captured for relocatation after it’s home forest has been burnt and cleared for palm oil plantations in Tripa, Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, 15 June 2012. The Tripa Peatswamp forest supports the highest density of Sumatran Orangutans anywhere on earth, but are still being cleared by palm oil companies who think they are beyond the reach of the law, the situation is urgent and requires action according to Dr Ian Singelton, Director of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program. Plus a field team from the Tripa coalition of NGO’s express deep concern over fires that are being continually lit in the highly threatened Tripa Peat Forest despite assurances from the Indonesian central government that âtriple trackâ legal action was underway and a small area of the Peat Forest had returned to the moratorium map central to the multibillion agreement between Indonesia and Norway to reduce carbon emission from burning the carbon dense Peat Forests. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL (HANDOUT PHOTO, EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
Tripa Forest Fires 13 June 2012 | Paul Hilton Photos
Fires continued to burn in Tripa’s peat forest to make ready for palm oil plantations, 12 June 2012, Aceh province, Sumatra, Indonesia. According to a field team from the coalition of NGO’s to protect Tripa, that visited the area. Fires are continuing to be lit in the highly threatened Tripa Peat Forest despite assurances from the Indonesian central government that âtriple trackâ legal action was underway and a small area of the Peat Forest had returned to the moratorium map central to the multibillion agreement between Indonesia and Norway to reduce carbon emission from burning the carbon dense Peat Forests. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL (HANDOUT PHOTO, EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
Clearing and fires continues in Tripa’s peat forest for palm oil plantations, 12 June 2012, Aceh province, Sumatra, Indonesia. According to a field team from the coalition of NGO’s to protect Tripa, that visited the area. Fires are continuing to be lit in the highly threatened Tripa Peat Forest despite assurances from the Indonesian central government that âtriple trackâ legal action was underway and a small area of the Peat Forest had returned to the moratorium map central to the multibillion agreement between Indonesia and Norway to reduce carbon emission from burning the carbon dense Peat Forests. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL (HANDOUT PHOTO, EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
Fires continued to burn in Tripa’s peat forest, 13 June 2012, Aceh province, Sumatra, Indonesia. According to a field team from the coalition of NGO’s to protect Tripa, that visited the area. Fires are continuing to be lit in the highly threatened Tripa Peat Forest for palm oil plantations despite assurances from the Indonesian central government that âtriple trackâ legal action was underway and a small area of the Peat Forest had returned to the moratorium map central to the multibillion agreement between Indonesia and Norway to reduce carbon emission from burning the carbon dense Peat Forests. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL (HANDOUT PHOTO, EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
A worker carries a palm oil sapling onto a cleared area to be planted in the coming days, after purpose lit fires go out in Tripa’s peat forest, 13 June 2012, Aceh province, Sumatra, Indonesia. According to a field team from the coalition of NGO’s to protect Tripa, that visited the area. Fires are continuing to be lit in the highly threatened Tripa Peat Forest despite assurances from the Indonesian central government that âtriple trackâ legal action was underway and a small area of the Peat Forest had returned to the moratorium map central to the multibillion agreement between Indonesia and Norway to reduce carbon emission from burning the carbon dense Peat Forests. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL (HANDOUT PHOTO, EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
Fires continued to be set in Tripa’s peat forestl, 13 June 2012, Aceh province, Sumatra, Indonesia. According to a field team from the coalition of NGO’s to protect Tripa, that visited the area. Fires are continuing to be lit in the highly threatened Tripa Peat Forest for palm oil plantations despite assurances from the Indonesian central government that âtriple trackâ legal action was underway and a small area of the Peat Forest had returned to the moratorium map central to the multibillion agreement between Indonesia and Norway to reduce carbon emission from burning the carbon dense Peat Forests. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL (HANDOUT PHOTO, EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
Ministry of Environment Investigation | May 2012
Joint investigation team arriving at the crime site witness heavy machinary illegally digging drainage canals in deep peat of Tripa Peat Swamp Forest. The Joint investigation team is supported by National Police, Provincial Police and Indonesian Ministry of Environment
Credit: Coalition to save Tripa Forest / Handout / 3/05/2012
Ministry of Environment investigation team collected more than a dozen soil samples as well as measuring peat depth from various hotspots in SPS2 concession. Upon field finding of company operating in peat deeper than 3 meter, MoE investigation team question why does the company illegally operate in deep peat? SPS2 representatives responded by claiming they have never measured the peat depth and he is not aware about the company Environmental Impact Assessment document. (Credit: Coalition to Save Tripa / Handouts / Editorial use only)
International Day of Action | April 2012
Our friend from Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin, USA has helped us put together this picture. Feel free to use them for your banner for International Day of Action
Confiscated illegal pet orangutans being cared for by the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program team, join with people around the world calling on “President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to save their friends, save Tripa and to Enforce the Law”, in Medan, 26 April 2012. Today actions took place in 7 countries from around the world calling on Indonesian President SBY to publically add his voice encouraging urgent legal investigation and enforcement of Indonesian laws punishing criminal activities for resulting in illegal destruction of the environment in the Tripa Peat Swamp Forest. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL. ( EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES )
Confiscated illegal pet orangutans being cared for by the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program team, join with people around the world calling on “President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to save their friends, save Tripa and to Enforce the Law”, in Medan, 26 April 2012. Today actions took place in 7 countries from around the world calling on Indonesian President SBY to publically add his voice encouraging urgent legal investigation and enforcement of Indonesian laws punishing criminal activities for resulting in illegal destruction of the environment in the Tripa Peat Swamp Forest. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL. ( EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES )
Pictures from Oxford UK!! Thank you Orangutan SOS!
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