MOZA’S JOURNEY FROM KUWAIT TO MOTHERHOOD ON KAJA ISLAND
On September 13, 2015, a two-year-old female orangutan began a long journey back to Indonesia. The young orangutan was later named Moza.
The lives of all living creatures on Earth - animals, plants, and fungi alike - are intertwined and connected. Damage to the ozone layer, a fragile shield of gas that protects life on Earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun, affects all life on the planet. While the sun’s rays are vital for the growth of living creatures and the process of photosynthesis in plants, at high levels these rays can have numerous adverse effects, which includes the potential to cause cancer and genetic damage. Today, September 16, we mark International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, or, World Ozone Day.
The ozone layer that preserves life on Earth is depleting at an alarming rate, due to the effect of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, methane, and chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) in our atmosphere. Dangerous levels of these gases break down the molecules that form the ozone layer. Scientists have discovered that the ozone layer above Antarctica has already been severely depleted, with a small hole that is growing bigger by the year. The condition is linked to global climate change, and if prolonged, damage to the ozone layer will endanger all life on earth.
One way to prevent climate change is by protecting the world’s rainforests. Many forests, especially peat swamp forests across the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, where orangutans reside, are enormous carbon sinks. This means that they are a natural reservoir for carbon, and the loss of these forests would release these stores, further damaging the ozone. Moreover, these forests actually sequester carbon, which means that through the process of photosynthesis, they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it to biomass. Orangutans help maintain the quality of these forests in Sumatra and Borneo, making them an important keystone species in these ecosystems and important in the fight against global climate change.
So, what can we do to save the ozone layer and help orangutans?
Given that ozone layer depletion is chiefly caused by industry and human activities, there are things we all can do to help reduce the rate of ozone and environmental damage. By simply purchasing and using consumer products labelled ‘ozone friendly’ or ‘CFC-free’, you can contribute to saving the environment. This also helps support the orangutan conservation effort, and the forest habitats that orangutans inhabit.
We all must play a part in preserving the Earth’s ozone layer. Thank you for your support on World Ozone Day!
On September 13, 2015, a two-year-old female orangutan began a long journey back to Indonesia. The young orangutan was later named Moza.
In the Tuanan Research Station, wild male orangutans move through the canopy with remarkable strength and grace. Among them is Dayak: a majestic flanged male whose broad cheek pads signal maturity, dominance, and excellent health.
Roy, a young male orangutan estimated to be around two years old, is now undergoing rehabilitation at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Central Kalimantan.
