Toronto Zoo’s baby Sumatran Orangutan now has a name

TORONTO, August 19, 2022 – Your Toronto Zoo has just revealed the name of the baby Sumatran orangutan, born April 8, 2022. The Wildlife Care keepers put forth some wonderful names, but one of these suggestions stood out as the clear winner, and they are thrilled to introduce you to Wali! Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo was joined by Consul General, Ms. Dyah Lestari, Indonesian Consulate to unveil the name this morning.

“We had thousands of people participate in our name guessing campaign, and it’s wonderful to include our community in these important milestones” said Dolf DeJong. “The birth of a critically endangered orangutan is an important contribution to a genetically healthy Sumatran orangutan population in human care, and his name represents the crucial fight orangutans in the wild are currently facing. Your Toronto Zoo is proud to be contributing to this fight against extinction through our partnership with the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme.”

Why “Wali”?

“Wali” means Guardian in Indonesian, which is fitting since Sumatran Orangutans are the guardians of the rainforests. As a keystone species, countless plants and animals depend on the critically endangered orangutans for survival. 10 years ago, there were an estimated 240,000 orangutans in the wild, and today there are only about 120,000 remaining. With more than half the population gone in only 10 years, the threat of extinction is very real. This is mainly due to habitat loss because of the rapid expansion of palm plantations which supply western demands for palm oil.

How can you be a guardian of this critically endangered species?

Palm Oil is the most widely produced vegetable oil on the planet and the demand for this product is increasing. Palm oil, or its derivatives, can be found in almost everything, including food products, plastics, detergents, shampoos, and cosmetics. “Unsustainable” palm oil results in deforestation, loss of biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable palm oil products come from plantations that have been certified by a third party organization like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) that ensures the whole palm oil manufacturing process follows certain criteria. Creating a market for Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CPSO) is the first step to ensuring the palm oil industry impacts as little as possible on the biodiversity of the regions it grows in.

For a limited time, the Toronto Zoo says you can adopt Wali through the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy’s Adopt an Animal program. Funds raised through the program support your Toronto Zoo’s ongoing scientific research and conservation efforts to preserve endangered species, like the Sumatran orangutan, and each package includes a number of benefits including a personalized, frame-ready certificate of adoption.

How is your Toronto Zoo helping to guard the rainforest?

Your Toronto Zoo and the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy are partnering with Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) to provide $250,000 over 10 years to support orangutan conservation in the wild. This funding will extend the Toronto Zoo’s impact to direct actions in the field, and the long term nature of the funding will help provide certainty and sustainability for conservation partners who are committed to survival of wild orangutan populations.

SOURCE Toronto Zoo

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