We can take a stand

Re 'Push for palm oil imperils red apes' rainforest habitat,' Spotlight, Jan. 21: The long-term survival of apes and many other incredible species is an immediate crisis. This article exposed the danger facing wild orangutans in Southeast Asia apes that will reside in Norfolk when the 'Trail of the Tiger' habitat opens at the Virginia Zoo in 2010. While the demise of this spectacular animal may seem a world away, it is something most us can help prevent by not using products containing palm oil. Palm oil, now the second-most widely-produced edible oil, can be found in cookies (from Girl Scout cookies to Oreos) and crackers, as well as other products we use every day such as shampoo, skin care and beauty products and pet food.

Palm oil plantations are destroying the native forest vegetation of the most biodiverse regions of the world, threatening the survival of orangutans. There are ways we can work together to protect this endangered species. To learn more, check out the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Web site at www.cmzoo.org/conservation/palmoilcrisis/.

When the 'man of the forest' arrives at the Virginia Zoo, I will be working with our staff to educate the community about this crisis so that we all can become better stewards for wildlife worldwide. We need to believe in the power of the individual to effect changes. There's never been a more important time for each of us to take a stand for animals and the environment.

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