Halloween is just around the corner!  Time to hunt down those costumes and stock up on goodies for your favorite little goblins.  This year, zoos across the country are working together to help you make the best candy choices for preserving natural habitats far and wide.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is lucky to house three beautiful orangutans, and is a leader in the conservation efforts of zoo-born orangutans and their wild counterparts. One particularly influential figure in the world of orangutan conservation is Zookeeper Megan Elder. Megan is the Chair of the Orangutan Species Survival Plan (SSP) management program for North American zoos accredited through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  She is also the International Orangutan Studbook Keeper for the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums (WAZA).  With Megan’s help, the captive orangutan species can be sustained long-term, allowing future generations to learn about and enjoy this unique and critically endangered species.  With your help, we can all work together to protect the forests wild orangutans depend on.  Shop smart!

Want to find ways to help Orangutans year round? Download and use Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Sustainable Palm Oil Shopping Guide. Just search Palm Oil in your app store and look for the green orangutan logo. With this app, scan the bar codes of your favorite products to determine if they contain sustainably farmed palm oil.

Together, we can all ensure our shopping choices help the conservation of these critically endangered species.