In recognition of International Orangutan Day, Lori and Peter kick off discussing some of the fascinating facts about these great apes. These gentle creatures are the largest tree-dwelling animals on earth. Indeed they even sleep in the trees, fashioning leafy nests each evening for that purpose. Orangutans are native to only 2 island on earth, Borneo and Sumatra, and their diets consist mostly of fruit (preferring durians), along with flowers, leaves, honey and insects. Males, whose arm spans can reach eight feet and who can weigh 200 lbs., are much larger than females.

Orangutan populations are in crisis due to the world’s seemingly insatiable appetite for palm oil. Native orangutan forests are being destroyed to plant palm oil fields, displacing the apes, who truly have no other alternatives to live.

Consumers around the world can help orangutans in the wild by supporting organizations that shield the forests from devastation, protect wild populations, and rescue orphaned and injured animals. Additionally, we all should curtail our consumption of palm oil to help dry up demand.  However, palm oil has become almost ubiquitous in a variety of products like food, lipstick, shampoo, and detergent products. Making it even more challenging, palm oil and its derivatives go by alternative names including palmitate, palm stearin, and sodium laureth sulfate.

Lori then continues discussing the health risks of consuming saturated fats which include heart disease, stroke and cancer. Palm oil (as well as meat and cheese) is high in saturated fats.

Due to the established health risks of trans fatty acids in the diet, a requirement to indicate the amount of trans fats in packaged foods went into effect more than a decade ago. Consequently, its use in packaged foods and restaurants gradually declined, and a full trans fat ban in the US went into effect in 2018. However, unfortunately, palm oil gradually has taken its place. Lori explains how this switch occurred and makes recommendations for healthier and more environmentally conscious eating.

Peter then welcomes rock superstar Paul Rodgers and his wife, fitness guru and former Miss Canada, Cynthia Kereluk Rodgers to talk about their deep advocacy for animals. In this interview, they share what inspires their compassion toward animals and encourage people to help alleviate animal suffering.

To conclude, would you have liked to be a zoologist? Maybe one of your children is interested in becoming one? Well, make sure you know your terminology first and Lori will test your knowledge on things related to zoology!

Paul Rodgers.