{"id":2606,"date":"2011-08-16T16:27:00","date_gmt":"2011-08-16T06:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/?p=2606"},"modified":"2015-03-23T15:22:00","modified_gmt":"2015-03-23T05:22:00","slug":"a-new-lastminute-lovely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/a-new-lastminute-lovely\/","title":{"rendered":"A New lastminute lovely!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The lastminute lovelies have some exciting news\u2026 We are proud to announce that this month we have a new team member. She is a feisty red-head from Indonesia with a passion for food. We’re talking of course about our newly adopted infant orangutan, Miriam.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Miriam\u2019s story<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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up close and beautiful<\/p><\/div>\n

Miriam was born in the wild in Eastern Sumatra, Indonesia, in May 2007. Tragically, her mother died of a mystery illness just a few months after her birth. Miriam resides at the Batu Mbelin Orangutan Centre near North Sumatra, where she receives the best care and may one day return to the wild.<\/p>\n

There’s something about Miriam<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve discovered some fun facts to give you a little insight into Miriam\u2019s personality:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Food, glorious food – <\/strong><\/span> She is a good eater and always finishes her food. If it\u2019s a fruit she particularly likes, she will collect as much as she can and hoard it with both her hands and feet (you go girl!)<\/p>\n

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our adoption certificate<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2022 What a sweetheart – <\/strong><\/span> Miriam is kind and never fights back or disturbs the other orangutans.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Bold and beautiful – <\/strong><\/span> She has a bold personality, but if she wants something and doesn’t get it she will often cry (who knew that orangutans cry?)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Sharing is caring – <\/strong><\/span> Miriam shares her food with her friends Hugo, Fren, Manohara, and Mambo (too cute).<\/p>\n

Why are we getting behind this cause? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

According to the United Nations, orangutans are predicted to be the first great ape to go extinct in the wild if urgent action is not taken.<\/p>\n

The greatest threat to these gorgeous creatures is from deforestation, mainly caused by illegal logging activities (more on this in a future blog post).<\/p>\n

Adoption funds go directly towards helping infants whose care at these centres is costly and requires:<\/p>\n

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swinging in the trees<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2022 Food
\n\u2022 Nappies (!)
\n\u2022 24 hour staff
\n\u2022 Nurse care
\n\u2022 Laboratory care<\/p>\n

These measures help ensure Miriam and her orangutan pals are in the utmost health and hopefully return to the wild one day.<\/p>\n

How you can help too <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Australian Orangutan Project (AOP) is a not-for-profit organisation, supporting orangutan conservation, rainforest protection and the reintroduction of orphans in order to save the species from extinction.<\/p>\n

There are plenty of ways to help including:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Adopting your own infant orangutan<\/a> (for the small price of $55) you can make a real difference and help these infants survive.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Becoming a registered supporter<\/a> of the Australian Orangutan Project (from $50 per year) or,<\/p>\n

\u2022 Simply make a donation<\/a><\/p>\n

More details can be found here: www.orangutan.org.au<\/a>\/<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll keep you updated on Miriam in the coming months!<\/h2>\n
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