March 22, 2006- Hollywood, CA.  During the occasion of the Orang Utan Republik Education Initiative’s (OUREI) first fundraiser, its Chairman, Dr. Gary Shapiro, initiator of International Orangutan Awareness Week (IOAW), publicly declared the transformation of IOAW to Orangutan Caring Week as a global event. After raising awareness through IOAW for a decade, Shapiro came to the realization that the endangered orangutan’s plight continues unabated with numbers plummeting throughout its range.  Shapiro stated, “Ten years is long enough to merely be aware of the issues. We now must evolve beyond passive awareness and into an active caring mode. We have to care enough about the species to save it while there still is time”

Last year OUREI was successful in enrolling the Indonesian government through the Minister of Forestry and OUREI Ambassador, Ms. Angelina Sondakh (also a member of the Indonesian Parliament) to declare Pekan Peduli Orang Utan, which translates to Orangutan Caring Week. This name change follows the realization that the word, “awareness” in the Indonesian language does not carry the level of action necessary to save the endangered wild orangutan.   OUREI is embracing this choice made by the Indonesian people and pursing a vigorous campaign to celebrate Orangutan Caring Week globally.

Indonesia is home to the largest remaining populations of wild orangutans. Their numbers are decreasing rapidly due to habitat conversion and destruction (principally from palm oil plantations and illegal logging) and the illicit pet trade in baby orangutans. By officially celebrating Orangutan Caring Week in Indonesia and internationally, OUREI and other orangutan organizations can heighten the level of campaigning in enrolling others to actively participate in saving the species.

This year, Orangutan Caring Week will be celebrated from November 12-18. The dates were chosen earlier this year to insure that the celebration would not be in conflict with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the celebration of Idul-Fitri.