Adopt an Orangutan: What to Know and Useful Advice

Animals should run free in the wild. But as human cities encroach on forests, animals lose their natural habitats. The orangutan is one of them, having already lost 80 per cent of its home to deforestation. That was thirty years ago. Today, orangutans—once widespread in the area—are now down to several sub-populations in the Southeast Asian region. If you want to help and protect the environment, take steps to ensure creatures don’t grow extinct. Consider adopting an orangutan.

What Does the Adoption Include?

Choose between a physical and digital option when you adopt an orangutan. Digital adoptions use 33 per cent more of the adoption funds. The money is used to support activities that positively impact the growth and care of orangutans. On the other hand, a physical adoption includes a soft toy, the adoption pack kit, and even regular updates about your adopted animal.

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Why Adopt an Orangutan?

An adoption helps orangutans in meaningful ways:

You fund activities for them, send money that allows the staff to set aside funds and use that for feeding and caring for the animal when you adopt an orangutan.
You give them funds for food. Non-profit organizations often take in as many abandoned animals as possible. If that’s the case with your chosen organization, resources are scarce, and food may run out. Adopting an orangutan helps ensure the animal has two to three meals daily.
You want the organization to succeed. Adopting an orangutan, you make a difference in the animal’s life. You send them funds, so that the team behind them can continue care for orangutans and other endangered animals.

How Do I Choose an Adoption Program?

Look for organizations that offer adoption programs. Consider their information. Is the non-profit organization trustworthy? Has it been around long enough? What kind of reputation does it have? If there aren’t any reviews, that can be a sign that you’re dealing with a dubious client. Spare yourself the pain and walk away.
Find reviews. Before choosing a non-profit organization to send donations to, look at reviews. What do other people say? Is the service legitimate? What does the organization focus its resources and efforts on? Better yet, look for a history of the work it has done so far.
Ask questions. Are you clear on what will happen after you send the donation? What can you expect? Will you choose a physical or digital adoption? Physical adoptions come with a toy, but if you want to ensure most of the money you pay goes to the orangutan, a digital adoption is a much better option.
Consider scale. What is the size of the organization? Is it a local group, a national group or an international one? If it’s a global organization, they’re often well-placed to implement changes and protect at-risk animals. They may be your best bet if you want to send money.
Ask where. Where do they work? When you send the funds, what activities are you encouraging? Does a portion of the adoption funds go to food for the animal? Or does it go to teams who patrol areas where they live to keep the orangutans safe?
Learn their approach. How does the company work? What’s their style or approach? That’s another factor to consider before choosing a non-profit organization. Do you like how they work? Do you agree? Have you seen their goals? Are you in the same boat? You’ll want to consider all that.

Other Ways to Help Besides Money

Donate your time. Money isn’t the only thing you can give. If you have time or expertise, ask the organization if they can put any of those to excellent use.
Fundraise. Money keeps the programs running. If the organization is looking for new investors, you can help by developing a series of fundraising ideas.
Spread awareness. One way to help the organization is to spread awareness about orangutans, the continued loss of their habitat, and more. By making it easy for people to understand the issues orangutans face, you can create a connection. If you succeed in establishing a connection with clients, they’re more likely to part with their hard-earned money.
Build trust. There are countless ways to build trust and engagement with clients. If you want to help a non-profit organization to get more donations, consider creating guides or how-to articles to help feedback
Create newsletters. If you know how to create newsletters, use that skill to create materials for the non-profit organization. Excellent research is always welcome. By providing articles that highlight the issues orangutans face, you can make an even bigger difference.

What Else Do You Need to Know?

Adoptions mean sending a donation.
Donations aren’t always money. You can give your time or expertise, too.
Look at the company. What kind of values does the company have? What values does it promote?