GUELPH – It may not seem like there’s a straight line between Guelph and Wellington County and the plight of the endangered orangutans in Indonesia and Malaysia, but for Patricia Cuthbert, the line runs directly through her head and her heart.
Cuthbert has raised about $40,000 over the last five years for International Animal Rescue and particularly that organization’s efforts to save the orangutan.
She has another event slated for the end of March.
“About five years ago, someone sent me a story about the baby orangutan in Borneo and Indonesia,” the Guelph woman said in an interview.
“They are in really bad shape and as an animal lover, I just couldn’t get it out of my head. I had to find out more about orangutans, Borneo, and climate change.
“And the more I learned, the more I wanted to know.”
What she found is that deforestation of the rain forest – especially for palm oil – is decimating the orangutan’s habitat and populations are dwindling rapidly.
In 2018 Cuthbert spent two months in Malaysia at a rescue/rehab facility where she saw first-hand the impact of habitat loss on the orangutan population.
“They are one of our closest cousins and they are so much like humans,” Cuthbert said.
“It was very moving for me. I decided I had to do something.”
She started small with a garage sale and gradually has ramped up her fundraising events.
The fourth annual Orangutan Pub Night is slated for March 28, from 7pm to 1am at the Guelph Army, Navy and Air Force Club at 2 Gordon Street.
The evening will feature music by Hoodle DJ Service, raffle prizes, food and a cash bar. Cuthbert will also share information about the plight of the endangered orangutan and the work of the International Animal Rescue’s Orangutan Project.
“Fergus and Elora have been incredible with their support and I’m so very grateful,” Cuthbert said.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door or by contacting Cuthbert by phone at 519-821-8064, on Facebook at patty.cuthbert.98, or email patricialeecuthbert@hotmail.com.
