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In 1998, Leif Cocks, a world-renowned orangutan expert, established The Orangutan Project with a mission to ensure that endangered wild orangutan species would be protected against extinction and continue to live in secure populations for generations to come. On Tuesday, July 9, at 7 p.m., Mr. Cocks will be at the Rogers Memorial Library to discuss his book, “Finding Our Humanity.”
In “Finding Our Humanity,” he shares his uncommon journey into what the great apes teach us about our own humanity. With insights on the evolution of the ape-human mind and our shared natural and cultural histories, Mr. Cocks reflects on how we can deepen our understanding of what it means to be truly human and how we can change the way we think and act in the world.
Mr. Cocks has been a key player in developing conservation plans for orangutans and creating plans that enhance their chances of survival. This includes the first ever successful reintroduction of the zoo-born orangutan. A small population biologist and curator by trade, he has published several papers on orangutans in peer-reviewed journals. He 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).
The Orangutan Project supports a wide range of critical projects that address the problem facing orangutans, including rescue, rehabilitation and release programs, as well as forest habitat protection and regeneration; and education, and research. Partnering with local communities, conservation projects have operated in Borneo and Sumatra. The organization is also responsible for establishing the most successful breeding colony of orangutans in the world.
For reservations or more information on the event, visit myrml.org or call 631-283-0774 ext. 523.
Staff Writer on Jun 27, 2019