If the Ceylon Rose butterfly could speak, it would be telling us to tread carefully through the jungle. It’s an important message, because this butterfly only makes its home in Sri Lanka’s undisturbed rainforests. If we can find it, we know the forest around is unspoiled and rich with natural treasures. But the Ceylon Rose is very sensitive. If the forest is disturbed it cannot live there – so it is really important we protect the last few patches of primary rainforest. An animal like this is called an ‘indicator species’ – its presence indicates the forest is in pristine condition, and its absence is a warning that bad environmental changes are afoot. Read the rest of this entry »

Rainforest Rescue, the not for profit organisation that manages the Daintree Buy Back and Protect Forever Project is now wanting to hear from Daintree landholders who would like to have tree planted on their properties.“If you have land in the Daintree area that is cleared or is partly cleared we want to hear from you,” said David Cook project manager with Rainforest Rescue.

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Sep 10 08:58am

Actress Alix Bidstrup who plays Amy Fielding on All Saints is heading off to Sumatra on a rescue mission to save the Orangutan. Orangutans in Indonesia are endangered – in Sumatra they are critically endangered (said to be only around 5,000 left – some say they could be extinct in 5 years), In Borneo there is less than 20,000.

With loss of forest, the orangutans either are injured or die in the process. Those that live are forced into villages or areas where they can’t survive, or the orphans are sold on the black market for the pet trade. Mandy says it is hard to look after the orphans because they have a long life span (about 50 years) – and it can be hard to release them back into the wild if they have had human contact. Read the rest of this entry »