Conservationists to use facebook and twitter to

give 24-hour window into wildlife of remote rainforests 

On 2 June 2014 conservationists are coming together to share 24 hours of wildlife sightings from rainforest sites across Southeast Asia.

Rainforest: Live will take advantage of the power of social media and the spread of technology to even some of the most remote corners of the globe.

Through Twitter and Facebook, 11

Orangutan at the Toronto Zoo

Orangutan at the Toronto Zoo

Image by James Cullen

 organisations will share live photos, videos and wildlife sightings from their respective field sites in the rainforests of Malaysia and Indonesia, all using the hashtag #rainforestlive.

Members of the public can take part by using the hashtag to ask the questions about rainforests that they have always wanted to know.

Matt Williams, Communications Manager for the Orangutan Tropical Peatland Project, said “the rainforests in this part of the world are incredibly rich in wildlife. From the endangered orangutan, to spectacular birds called hornbills, to leopards and jungle tigers and elephants that are rarely seen by people.

“Rainforests in Sumatra and Borneo are home to the entire remaining world population of around 60,500 orangutans, which is rapidly disappearing. But it’s not just about the charismatic creatures we see in the headlines every day. From fish, to birds, to frogs to butterflies, rainforests like Sabangau where OuTrop works are packed full of life.

“Across the region committed organisations and people are working hard to save the rainforests this wildlife depends on.

“But so often coverage of rainforests focuses on the threats to jungles and wildlife. Amid stories about palm oil, deforestation, logging and poaching, it’s easy to forget the beauty and wonders of these forests.

“If people in Southeast Asia and across the world are reminded of this incredible natural gift, then we have a better chance of saving tropical rainforests everywhere. Rainforest: Live is an unprecedented event bringing live sightings straight from the jungle, and it’s very exciting that we’ll be leveraging the power of social media to bring people right into the heart of the jungle with us. Members of the public can take part by using the #rainforestlive hashtag to ask questions they’ve always wondered about to rainforest experts.”

“We’re excited to participate in this event,” says Dr. Cheryl Knott, Executive Director of the Gunung Palung Orangutan Project, “as Rainforest: Live will provide an exciting ‘virtual experience’ for the pubic – a way to simultaneously travel to rainforests throughout Southeast Asia and experience the regions’ incredible biodiversity.”

Ashley Leiman, OBE, Director of the Orangutan Foundation, said “this collaboration brings home that deforestation effects not only the wildlife, but is the third largest cause of green house gas emissions and so effects everyone on the planet. Days such as this highlight how much researchers are learning, with a view to achieving more conservation successes on the ground.”

 

 

 

ENDS

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