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Heard It Through The Vine www.apeconservationeffort.org

Indonesian forest ecosystems because they

help spread seeds around

6 the forest, which then become young growth plants and trees, WWF Fires in Borneo on the ground states on their website. Fires in Borneo from space

The fires decimated over The fires have been Fires in Borneo 4 million acres of forest particularly tricky to put Create A and set up what will be out, because they have one of the most taken hold in areas with Disaster for devastating peat, a type of soil made environmental disasters of partially decayed plant causing harm to , material that is rich in

carbon and highly By Laura Mayo wildlife and to the planet for decades to come. flammable. Peat, which During the late summer is the first step in coal months of 2015, "Borneo It took awhile, but people formation, releases large Burning" was the all over the world soon amounts of carbon headline seen by those realized how horrific the monoxide and carbon who care for orangutans, fires were. Beginning as dioxide when it burns, predicting riveting events small, mostly illegal ways according to a 2013 study that would take the lives for local farmers as well presented at the Fire of many wild orangutans. as palm oil companies to Behavior and Fuels Borneo, an island quickly ready their land Conference held in territory shared by for planting of new crops, Raleigh, North Carolina. Indonesia, Malaysia, and the fires were fueled by It's often very difficult to Brunei, is home to one of the dry season and put out peat fires because the largest wild quickly spread out of they can burn and populations in the world. control. The blazes smolder deep An estimated 20,000 of became so severe that underground. the live on the NASA satellites were island. The Bornean able to capture dramatic Along with the orangutan is classified as images from space of the obliteration of the an endangered species sprawling smoke. physical forest home of reports the World the wild orangutan, the Wildlife Fund (WWF). fires caused a thick wall These apes play an of smoke, engulfing much important role in of Borneo and Sumatra.

A Membership Newsletter January 201

The devastating effects capacity above already www.internationalanimalre on health may not unheard of limits. scue.org be known for many years. and from For financial information, ACE is proud to lend www.livescience.com/52677 please see Susan Smith's support to International -boreno-fires-hurt- article. orangutans.html, Nov. 5, Rescue (IAR) 2015 article by Elizabeth whose facility in Borneo Newton Laura and Lynn reported now cares for many on the dire need for help orangutans of all ages. Please refer to these sites during the fires in They also work to for additional information. Borneo. Since there was

Workers try to control the relocate wild orangutans a quorum of voting spread of fires in Borneo from harm's way to safer members present, it was areas of the forest. decided that money raised What hits home for those from the holiday sales of us who have taken care Today, the rains have table, HoneyBaked of orangutans for many diminished the fires and cards, Mik's bake sale and years is how the fires hurt smoke for now. Because year-end donations would the individual . so much land was go to International Acute respiratory destroyed, the already Animal Rescue and be problems particularly dim future for wild earmarked for fire affect the older ones who orangutans is very dire. disaster recovery in may have died because But ACE members and Borneo. they couldn't escape the supporters will hopefully ACE Begins A flames and smoke as well continue to play a role in Thanks to all members as the young orangutans helping the orangutans in New Year and non-members who who may have lost their any way possible to supported our events and ensure better lives for projects. We are glad to mothers, a fate no On November 7, 2015, some of the most be able to continue to orangutan infant should members for ACE incredible animals on the make a difference in the face. gathered for a potluck planet. survival of great apes in dinner and general the wild. meeting. The food was

delicious as always, and it Officers and committee was the perfect way to chairs for this year were ring out the old and ring chosen by the new board in the new. Voting for at their January meeting. new board members

produced four additions Officers are: to the ACE board: Jane President - Donna Mayer Barron, Lori Kirkland, Todd An orangutan saved from the A lucky survivor of the fires Donna Mayer Todd and

fires Gene Todd. They join Vice President - Lynn Laura Mayo is assistant three returning board Luckily, there were Yakubinis curator of at members: Janelle Nord, MANY dedicated people Atlanta and a past officer Susan Smith and Lynn working tirelessly to put and board member of ACE. Secretary - Jane Barron Yakubinis. We out the fires and rescue She traveled to Borneo in appreciate the work the Treasurer - Susan Smith those orangutans needing 2012, when she met and three retiring board help. So many displaced remains friends with members did, and they Board Members - and injured, from infants Christine Nelson, a veterinarian with IAR in are Michele Dave, Julie to adults, were sent to Ketapang. Gaines, and Laura Mayo. Lori Kirkland rescue and rehabilitation centers throughout Janelle Nord Some information for this Borneo - pushing their article came from the following: Gene Todd sales table made over $3,325 - International $950. The usual items Animal Rescue Committee chairs: were offered such as Sacks, Christmas $825 - Sumatran Finance - Susan Smith ornaments and note cards. Orangutan Conservation New items this year were Programme Membership and wine and beer glasses that Newsletter- Jane Barron had been painted by some $3,200 (4th quarter

of Zoo Atlanta's resident donation) - International Apes in the Arts - Lori great apes, branching out Animal Rescue Kirkland 2015 - A from their regular Successful Year painting of ornaments, Gorilla Golf - Jodi plus signed copies of Carrigan and Lynn of Fundraising Jeffrey - Take a Walk in Yakubinis December by Karin By Susan Smith Konoval. Fundraising - Lori Kirkland and Laura Mayo ACE had another year of At the year-end ACE successful fundraising, meeting, membership Marketing/Advertising - raising over $31,000 voted to donate all the Donna Mayer Todd and (after expenses) to help money raised in the last What is Lynn Yakubinis save the great apes. quarter of 2015 to help Large events like Apes in with the critical fire International Research - Gene Todd the Arts, Run for the situation in Borneo. Redheads, and Gorilla Funds from the sales Animal Rescue? Social Media - Lynn Golf, as well as smaller table, HoneyBaked Ham Saving Animals From Yakubinis fundraisers like Yankee gift cards, GoodSearch Suffering Around the Candle, HoneyBaked reward, and donations World Run for the Redheads - Ham gift cards, and Dine- collected during this 2016 will be a year to re- Out at Doc Chey's all period, along with www.internationalanimalres evaluate and remodel the helped to bring in funds revenue from Mik Chari's cue.org R4R. More later. that were distributed to bake sale and Darlene various organizations. Bohanon's party, totaling IAR is a group that ACE $3,200 will be sent to is supporting to save The organizations that we International Animal orangutans from the supported included Rescue to help in this Indonesian fires. This is Friends of , effort. With this year's background of the group final donation, ACE has from their website, and Conservation Programme, donated over $145,000 uses the spelling on the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund toward saving the great website. We feel they are International, Tacugama apes - a job well done! a group with a mission Sanctuary similar to ACE and we and International Animal Donations made in 2015 are proud to support Rescue. Each of these them. organizations works $2,850 - Friends of directly with great apes in Bonobos "At International Animal the wild, where our Rescue we do exactly fundraising efforts can do $2,850 - Tacugama what our name says - we the most good. Chimpanzee Sanctuary save animals from suffering around the Our final fundraiser was $17,546 - Dian Fossey world. Our work held at the December Gorilla Fund International includes cutting free and meeting of Zoo Atlanta caring for dancing bears volunteers. The ACE in India, rescuing primates from captivity in accounts department and there and engaging new Indonesia, and sterilising supporter care. The UK audiences in order to and vaccinating stray office works closely with establish a wider network was an urgent need for dogs and cats in the teams in India, of individuals committed something larger and developing countries. Indonesia and Malta to to supporting our animal better equipped. Wherever possible we ensure the projects run welfare and conservation return rescued animals to smoothly. projects. Thanks to the generosity their natural environment of our supporters, we but we also provide a International Animal Borneo Orangutan were able to buy 24 permanent home for Rescue has no connection Rescue hectares of land in Sungai animals that can no whatsoever with the The plight of the Awan and at the longer survive in the group know as "The orangutan in Indonesia beginning of 2012 we wild. International Animals has reached a critical started building a Rescue Foundation." stage, with the survival of permanent Orangutan As human populations the species under severe Rescue and Rehabilitation expand, wildlife comes International Animal threat. Animals are Centre. We have since under increasing threat. Rescue, U.S. suffering and dying raised sufficient funds to By rescuing individual International Animal because of the systematic purchase a further 42 animals belonging to Rescue, U.S. was destruction of the hectares and expand the species like the orangutan incorporated on 19 April , primarily for original site. Here the and reintroducing them 2001 and subsequently palm oil production, rescued orangutans are into protected areas in the registered in every state particularly in prepared for release back wild, our work also plays in the U.S. This meant Kalimantan, the into protected areas of a role in the conservation we were able to start Indonesian part of the forest. Any animals that of the species as a whole. raising awareness of our island of Borneo. can no longer survive in projects and generate the wild will be given a A 'Hands On' Approach funds to support them by International Animal permanent home at the We work to educate the developing a programme Rescue's team is working centre." public in the of direct mail appeals to in West Kalimantan to compassionate and animal-loving members rescue and care for baby United States Registered humane treatment of all of the U.S. public. orangutans that have been 501(c)(3) non-profit animals. Sound scientific Through this programme taken from their mothers organization, Tax Id: 54- evidence forms the basis we are building up a to be illegally sold as pets 2044674 for our decision-making network of U.S. and adults that have spent and determines the course supporters eager to their entire lives in of our rescue operations. support our animal rescue captivity chained up or In all that we do we aim projects and help us imprisoned in tiny cages. to find practical solutions spread the word about our Our human-orangutan that benefit both animals vital work. conflict (HOC) team also and people. comes to the aid of Since 2006 International orangutans left stranded We also work with other Animal Rescue has run a when their forest home is like-minded organisations small administrative destroyed and Did you know? and government office in Massachusetts translocates these departments to strengthen and we are now seeking vulnerable animals to safe legislation to protect to expand our fundraising areas of protected forest. Since the founding of animals from cruelty and efforts in the U.S. When we first started the ACE in 2006, we have neglect. project in 2009 we used a donated over $145,000 During the latter half of small transit centre in to non-profit Head Office 2014, with the transfer of Ketapang as a temporary organizations working International Animals a member of our UK rescue facility. However, to save great apes in the Rescue has its head office fundraising team to the it wasn't long before the wild! in the UK, comprising of U.S, we will be centre was overflowing a small fundraising team, increasing our presence with orangutans and there § Closest to the Gorilla - Africa as well as in the East Side. The DFGFI Kathy LaPointe field. staff had done a superb job of embellishing the As a perpetual annual banquet tables with donating organization of centerpieces featuring $1,000 or more, ACE is cute plush . There extended an invitation was a table near the bar each year for some of its with giveaways such as members to attend. On DFGFI calendars, bumper November 2, 2015, three stickers and newsletters, of our members (Jodi Gorilla Munch cereal and

2015 Gorilla Golf Photo by Jodi Carrigan Carrigan, Lisa Dempsey, packets of natural snack Kathy LaPointe with her and Adie Miller) traveled called Gorilla Goods, gorilla art prize to New York for the from which 2% of the The Fifth Annual Gorilla opportunity to represent profits are donated to Golf tournament Kathy LaPointe made the ACE and its commitment DFGFI. Honorary benefiting Dian Fossey shot of her life to get not to gorilla conservation by Chairperson Sigourney Gorilla Fund International only Closest to the attending the event. Weaver was in attendance (DFGFI) was held on Gorilla but also a hole-in- and was quite gracious September 29, 2015, at one!!!! Congratulations meeting all of the guests Brookfield Country Club to all of the winners! and posing for photos. in Roswell, GA. We had an excellent turn out this Save the date Dr. Stoinski started the year with 21 golfers! September 27, 2016, for program with general Also, we had our greatest our 6th Annual Gorilla Photo by Adie Miller facts about the work fundraising to date raising Golf Tournament. For Lisa Dempsey, Sigourney being done in for Weaver, Adie Miller $17,542 for gorilla more information, contact research and protection of conservation. gorillagolf@apeconservat mountain gorillas, The Circle Luncheon was ioneffort.org. including plans for the held in the elegant Yale start of an upcoming Club on Vanderbilt census. Additionally the Avenue in New York following four points City. We were greeted in were emphasized as the club lobby by DFGFI ACE Attends the necessary to save the Photo by Jodi Carrigan President & CEO Dr. species: Our loyal gang of golfers Tara Stoinski and newly- DFGFI Luncheon elected Chairman of the 1. Protection of gorilla The winning golfers this in New York Executive Committee populations and their year were as follows: Dwight Scott. forest homes through By Adie Miller First Place - Brian anti- patrols. Buckelew Each year in the fall in Over 20,000 hours are New York City, long- dedicated to protecting Second Place - Carl time donors and generous Rwanda's mountain Johnston supporters of the Dian gorillas each year. Fossey Gorilla Fund 2. Scientific research on gorillas as well as their Third Place (tie) - International (DFGFI) Alfredo Rameiz and gather for an annual Photo by Adie Miller surrounding biodiversity. Reineck Dwight Scott and Teams at the Karisoke update and elegant Tara Stoinski Research Center collect luncheon to honor the Longest Drive - Vivienne more than 5, 000 hours of work done by the We were whisked up the Ferguson data yearly that are fed dedicated staff both in the elevator to an ornately- into a long-term database offices in the U.S. and decorated ballroom and shared with other overlooking the Upper conservation initiatives. 3. Training the next as the scientist that she Mountain Gorilla generation of portrayed in the movie conservationists. In several years ago. In fact, Census opposed to paper conjunction with the she was included among notebooks and pencils)! University of Rwanda, some of the long-term Underway in DFGFI trains over 200 donors, many of whom Africa's Virunga Then, in early October, students each year in field have contributed teams set up camps in the research methods and significant dollars to Massif forest, and began conservation. DFGFI for over twenty conducting the first part 4. Community outreach years. There was time for DFGFI Gorilla Council of the census, over a near Volcanoes National a few attendees to story, October 2015 period of approximately Park where primary and comment. Each one 11 weeks. A second secondary school thanked the presenters for A census of mountain sweep of the forest is children are educated their work and some gorillas in the Virunga planned for early next about gorilla spoke with pure joy that massif, which straddles year. Each phase will be conservation. DFGFI they could contribute to the borders between followed by data analysis also supports a local something that meant so Rwanda, and the and the release of health clinic, clean water much to them personally. Democratic Republic of preliminary results, and initiatives, and Congo, is now underway, then a final report. community development It was an honor to attend with the participation of projects. the Circle Luncheon in authorities and staff from The last census was 2015. With the onset of all three countries, as well conducted in 2010 and Dr. Damian Caillaud 2016 comes the 50th as many partner showed a total of 480 spoke about new and Anniversary of Karisoke organizations. mountain gorillas in the greater efforts to protect Research Center and Virungas, an increase Grauer's gorillas in the more opportunity for This complex from the 380 counted in DRC. Veronica Vecelli, ACE to support DFGFI collaborative effort the 2003 census. (The Program Manager at More will be revealed. involves some 60 people census does not include a Karisoke Research divided into teams, separate populations of Center, gave an overall including eight staff from mountain gorillas living update of progress in the Dian Fossey Gorilla in Uganda's Bwindi monitoring mountain Fund. The process began forest. A separate census gorillas. with an intensive training conducted there in 2012 period, which was like a showed approximately crash course on how to 400 gorillas.) plan and follow predetermined routes How the census works (called "recces"), search for fresh gorilla trails, use Each day on a census

Photo by Adie Miller electronic data-collection team involves some 10 or Tara Stoinski and Sigourney devices and an more hours of hiking in Weaver at the 2015 DFGFI Photo by Adie Miller application specifically the forest, starting out on Kristin Lukas, Kiesza, Tara Circle Luncheon in New York developed for the census, the prescribed recces. Stoinski, Jodi Carrigan collect and preserve Census staff

gorilla fecal samples, systematically walk After listening raptly to identify important throughout the gorillas' all the presentations, vegetation, use entire range, following gave a compasses and maps, and gorilla trails as they are moving talk about the follow logistics and encountered from west to dedication of these communications east. The count is based workers, especially those protocols. Notably, this on observations of night in the field, and still was the first time nests, dung samples and seems as passionate about electronic devices were hair samples, which the protection of gorillas used for a census (as provide various kinds of understanding the current From Orangutan population status and Outreach/SOCP: "We've received the ACE Run evidence. For example, overall population trends for the Redheads funds ($835) the presence of silver hair of this critically and will include them in our indicates nests of endangered species, to transfer to SOCP. Jessica silverbacks. Dung confirm that our intensive McKelson [is copied] on this samples are used in protection efforts are email so we're all on the same several ways: to working, and to provide page. As I'm sure you've seen online there has been another approximate ages of all partners with a basis big influx of babies to SOCP individuals in each group for good conservation quarantine center in the last by measuring dung size; planning," says Tara Mark you calendars to few months. The ACE to determine genders and Stoinski, Ph.D., president contribution will be a big help. unique identities using and CEO/chief scientific attend a one-hour Big orangutan hugs to everyone. Thanks again! Rich DNA extraction; and to officer of the Fossey brown bag lunch Zimmerman, Director establish health status by Fund. General Meeting of ACE Orangutan Outreach" analyzing gastrointestinal parasites that may be The 2015 Virunga Massif on Saturday, Feb. 20, present. The census staff mountain gorilla census is 2016 2016 ACE Board also collects information being conducted by the at 12:15 pm. Location Protected Area Authorities on illegal activities in the to be announced by President - Donna Meyer forest, and looks for the in the Democratic Republic Todd of Congo, Rwanda, and presence or evidence of email next month. president@apeconservation Uganda (l'Institut other large in effort.org Congolais pour la the park. Conservation de la Nature, Vice President - Lynn the Rwanda Development Notes of Thanks Yakubinis Also critical to the census Board and the Uganda teams are the cooks who Wildlife Authority) under From IAR: "We can't thank you enough Secretary - Jane Barron set up makeshift camp the transboundary framework of the Greater for your generous support. kitchens in the forest to The energy you and the Ape Treasurer - Susan Smith Virunga Transboundary keep everyone fed. They Conservation Effort put forth also get water and Collaboration. The census to help orangutans is truly Board members at large: firewood, and generally is supported by the inspiring. We couldn't do this International Gorilla make sure everyone is work without you! Sincerely, Janelle Nord Conservation Programme Laurence Holyoak, US well cared for. Once the (a coalition of the Fauna & Program Director" day is over, everyone Gene Todd Flora International and hikes back to their camps WWF), the Max Planck From DFGFI: (excerpts) "Thank you for your gift of Lynn Yakubinis but there is still work to Institute for Evolutionary do. All the samples Anthropology, the Dian $17,546 received on Dec. 4, 2015 to DFGFI via the Fossey Gorilla Fund collected for DNA proceeds from the 5th Annual ACE contact addresses: analysis have to be International, the Institute Gorilla Golf Tournament. transferred to other of Tropical Forest Your collaboration is essential Primary contact: containers and all the Conservation, the Gorilla to gorilla conservation and info@apeconservationeffort devices and radios have Doctors, and the North protection. We are extremely .org Carolina Zoo. The census proud for your continued to be recharged, using a is funded through generous support! We have had such an Run for the Redheads 5K: generator, which takes contributions from Fauna & incredible year in all our about three hours. But programs...And this is thanks redheadrun@apeconservatio Flora International, WWF neffort.org after that, it's nice and and Partners in to the continuing support of organizations like your, once quiet and everyone goes Conservation at the again thanks so much. Gorilla Golf: to sleep early, to prepare Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. Sincerely, Tara Stoinski gorillagolf@apeconservatio for another long but President & CEO/Chief neffort.org important day. Scientific Officer" Fundraising events: "The mountain gorilla fundraising@apeconservati census is critical for oneffort.org