
Did you know… it was traditionally believed, that the Orangutans could talk but chose not to, as a sign of their high intelligence… as they were afraid that they might be enslaved and put to work?
August 19th is International Orangutan day and it’s time for you to meet our cousins.
4ZZZ's Eliot Rifkin chatted about ‘All Things Orangutan’ with Leif Cocks the founder of The Orangutan Project.
For a deep dive...
You can read about Leif here as well as go to The Orangutan Project website for more info. The Orangutan Project can be followed on social media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. There are many ways to help Orangutans - Orangutan Adoption Program, sponsoring the protection of a rainforest, donating to support The Orangutan Project and even Adventure Tourism.
Leif is the author of the books: Orangutans and their Battle for Survival (2002) and Orangutans My Cousins, My Friends - A journey to understand and save the person of the forest (2016). If you like a copy visit here.
Learn about ʻHow to Observeʻ as well as the International Oragutan Day history. Watch the doco - "Meet our Cousins - Orangutan Conservation Around the Globe" hosted by Orangutan Outreach or visit the Orangutan Outreach YouTube channel, Orangutan Outreach Facebook page and their Twitter feeds. They’ll talk about ‘All Things Orangutan’, and welcome special guests, as well as screen EXCLUSIVE footage from the Orangutan Jungle School – including their beloved Big Boy Beni.

Your final 11AM Zedlines with the Summer 2026 Friday Zedliners, read by Ava, Ethan and Yuchen (Image via Wikimedia Commons)!

Your 10AM Zedlines with Asha, Dan and Charlie (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Ava, Ethan and Yuchen (Image via Pexels).

Your 8AM Zedlines with Asha, Charlie and Dan (Image via Flickr).

Your 10AM Zedlines with Sarah, Vivek, Eden and HG
IMG: From wikimedia under CC3.0

Your 9AM Zedlines with Alec, Stella, Em, and Vivek
IMG: From wikimedia under CC4.0

Your 8AM Zedlines with Sarah, Stella, Alec, and Em
IMG: Supplied

Your 11AM Zedlines with Georgia and Cass

Your 10AM Zedlines with Cass and Lachlan

Your 9AM Zedlines with Cass and Georgie

Your 8AM Zedlines with Georgie and Lachlan.

Your 11AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 10AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 8AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 11AM Zedlines with Ava, Charlie and Yuchen! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 10AM Zedlines with Asha, Dan and Ethan! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Ava, Charlie and Yuchen! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 8AM Zedlines with Asha, Dan and Ethan! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 11AM Zedlines with Eden and Alec
IMG: From r/Brisbane from u/Dense_Passenger4174

Your 10AM Zedlines with Vivek and Eden
IMG: From wikimedia under CC4.0

Your 9AM Zedlines with Alec and Eden
IMG: From Pauline Hanson on X

Your 8AM Zedlines with Alec and Vivek
IMG: From wikimedia commons under CC3.0

Your 11AM Zedlines with Georgie, Lachlan, and Hailey

Your 10AM Zedlines with Georgie and Hailey

Your 9AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Hailey.

Your 8AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Georgie
Image Credit: Neil Sequira

Your 10AM Zedlines with Mack, Clementine and Livinia

Your 9AM Zedlines with Livinia, Mack and Clementine