Redheads for Redheads

Redheads for Redheads

Channel 7 actress Cornelia Francis has joined the Australian Orangutan Project (AOP) as its first Ambassador in an effort to raise awareness about Critically Endangered orangutans.

Cornelia's role with the AOP will kick off with a nationwide awareness campaign called -Redheads for Redheads', of which she will be the face. She also traveled to visit and lend her hand to help orangutans projects funded by the AOP in Borneo in mid-October.

The tour commenced on the 16th of October where Cornelia visited the Orangtuan Care and Quarantine Centre in Pangkalan Bun, Borneo to see first hand the effect of the widespread deforestation of orangutan habitat, and how orangutans are being rehabilitated. She will also visit Tanjung Putting National Park to help replant the Pesalat area and to view the orangutans being fed. Cornelia will be travelling with a team from AOP through tour partner, Orangutan Odysseys.

Cornelia Francis is renowned Australian actress who has appeared on several Australian TV shows including the Box, The Young Doctors, Sons and Daughters and her most memorable role as Morag Bellingham in Home and Away, which she has starred in for over 20 years. She also hosted the Australia version of the quiz show, The Weakest Link.

'I am extremely excited to be joining forces with AOP to help raise awareness about the plight of the orangutan. I could not think of a better cause to lend my hand of support and I am thrilled to be visiting Borneo in October. I look forward to bringing national attention to the dire situation orangutans face from habitat loss and help raise much needed funds to ensure the survival of the species," said Cornelia.

Orangutans are highly intelligent creatures, sharing 97% of human genetics and being one of our closest relatives. The battle to protect their land and the threat of extinction is a priority to Cornelia and the AOP. Their natural habitat is being destroyed by illegal logging, mining, land clearing and through illegal pet trading. 80% of forest habitat has been devastated in the past 20 years and is being continuously cleared at an alarming rate.

Cornelia is leading the change and calling for all redheads, and Australians, to support out closely related cousins. You can help by holding your own -Redheads for Redheads' event to raise funds to support orangutans or by adopting your own redheaded orangutan orphan, or by safeguarding their forests.

'I want to encourage all redheads to support our fellow cousins in need. There is simply not enough time left for us to ensure the survival of the orangutan species, the world needs to take stock now and preserve the remaining forest we have left. Come on Australia, do your bit and help this truly amazing species," says Cornelia.

AOP is a not-for-profit organisation supporting orangutan conservation, rainforest protection, local community partnerships and the rehabilitation and reintroduction of displaced orangutans back to the wild, in order to save two orangutan species from extinction.

The general public can help support the -Redheads for Redheads' campaign with the Australia Orangutan Project at www.orangutan.org.au or 1300 Red Ape (1300 733 273).