Nantwich Reaseheath students go “orange” for Chester Zoo campaign

Nantwich animal care students went “orange” to help save one of the world’s most endangered apes.

The Reaseheath College students dressed in orange during fund raising activities for the “Go Orange for Orangutans” campaign.

And their efforts raised more than £300 for the campaign, run by Chester Zoo as part of its “Act for Wildlife” initiative to raise money for conservation projects worldwide.

Two groups of students took part.

Seventeen diploma in animal care students raised £227 after being sponsored by family and friends to dress up in orange.

And members of Reaseheath’s Conservation Society raised £76 by holding a social event in the student bar.

Diploma students presented their cheque to Penny Rudd, Chester Zoo’s registrar and internships coordinator, when she visited the campus.

Conservation Society members handed over their donation during a recent trip to the zoo.

Chester Zoo’s appeal has raised more than £13,000 to be used to provide specialist camera traps in Borneo, the last stronghold of the wild orangutan.

Penny Rudd, a former Reaseheath governor, said: “It has been wonderful to meet students who are so keen to become involved in a real conservation project.

“Orangutans face a very uncertain future owing to habitat destruction, mainly caused by the widescale production of unsustainably farmed palm oil.

“Along with Reaseheath, Chester Zoo aims to actively encourage and educate young people who will have the power to influence the future.

“In this case we need to encourage shoppers to buy only the products which contain responsibly sourced palm oil (look for the RSPO signs on packaging!)

“This could have a major impact in saving what little habitat is left for the orangutans.”

Animal Care course manager Holly Berry said: “Our students were particularly keen to help as they had learned about the plight of wild orang-utans during their lectures.

“Both the students and I were very proud to have raised money for such a worthy cause.”

(Pic above: Chester Zoo’s Penny Rudd receives donation from animal care students Ashleigh Goldstraw and Robbie Kelly)

(Pic below: Conservation Society members Dylan Gagas, Jess Britton, Charlotte Daniels, Rachel Bowles and Harley Merrigan in front of the orangutan enclosure at Chester Zoo)