Appeal to help support orangutans film project
A Whaplode woman needs to raise £7,000 to help ease the appalling suffering of orangutans in Borneo.
Stephanie Brown (46), of Millgate, is leaving for the Asian country in May to produce a series of DVDs about the terrible conditions in which some of the great apes live.
She first went to Borneo nine years ago after watching a Julia Roberts documentary about the plight of orangutans and has returned many times since to help out as a part of the charity Orangutan Foundation UK.
During her time she has seen orangutans killed by illegal loggers felling trees, areas of rainforest obliterated by pollution from gold mines, and orphaned baby orangutans being brought up by humans.
Most horrific of all is the practice of orangutan prostitution, which is popular in some Bornean villages.
Stephanie is now hoping to raise 6,900 to pay for the production of four five-minute DVDs, which she will show to businesses in the hope that they will contribute to the foundation's Bornean care centre.
The money will also go towards paying for armed bodyguards to escort her through bandit country.
She said: "Some of these orangutans are subjected to shocking conditions and we need to rescue and rehabilitate them all.
"When I first went over to Borneo I never realised how much help these orangutans needed and I brought back such good pictures that I realised I could talk about my experiences to raise money for the clinic."
Respected documentary maker Simon Norminton has agreed to film and produce the DVDs with Stephanie so that more money can be raised to improve the facilities at the orangutan care clinic and protection zone.
When not fighting for animal rights in Asia, Stephanie runs the Kuching Cattery in Whaplode with her family.
She admitted that it was a bit of a shock for her husband and three daughters when she first decided to go to Borneo.
She said: "My family thought I had lost my mind when I told them and they worried about the dangers, but since then they have been very supportive.
"It is just in my blood to feel the need to do something about what I had seen"
To sponsor Stephanie, contact the Kuching Cattery, Millgate, Whaplode, on 01406 370602. Corporate sponsors will be accredited in the finished DVD and Stephanie is willing to wear corporate logo t-shirts during the filming.
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Tuesday 07 February 2012
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