Dear John,

There could be only 560 Tapanuli orangutans left alive. This incredibly rare species is clinging on to survival in one of the last jungles in Indonesia. But now the expansion of a UK-owned gold mine could push the Tapanuli to extinction.

The culprit? A company owned by Jardine Matheson – a UK-based corporate giant. So, today we’ve joined our allies from WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) to protest the expansion of the gold mine outside the corporation's offices and one of its luxury hotels.

See the action and watch the video from today’s protest telling Jardine Matheson to stop the mine now. And please share our video to help spread the word before it’s too late for this critically endangered great ape.

The Tapanuli orangutan shares its rainforest habitat with other endangered species too. Like the smallest of all the tigers – the Sumatran tiger – and the unique and unusual pangolin.

With its large cheeks and slender build, the beautiful Tapanuli was classed as a new orangutan species only 7 years ago. We mustn’t lose this wonderful animal so soon after identifying it.

Jardine Matheson’s Martabe gold mine already takes up an area of the Batang Toru forest the size of the Norfolk Broads. But there are plans to expand and explore for gold deeper into the forest.

WALHI is supporting local North Sumatran communities with their own projects to protect local wildlife. Now they need your help to stop Jardine Matheson trashing precious habitat before it’s too late.

These animals don’t have a voice, so we must speak for them. That’s why we went to the Jardine Matheson-owned hotel and its offices today. We called for an end to more destruction by its gold mining. To give the world’s rarest great ape a fighting chance to survive. Check out how we did it – you might spot people dressed as orangutans.

As well as orangutans, communities depend on the forest for their livelihoods.

Digging for more gold puts tens of thousands of people at risk. The mine sits right on a fault line where there’ve been major earthquakes. And it could trigger more landslides.

Pollution from the mine threatens the water supply of 100,000 people, ruining the livelihoods of rice farmers and fish farmers.

That’s why, alongside WALHI, we’re calling on you to act. Now’s the time to tell Jardine Matheson to stop plans for gold mine expansion before it’s too late for the Tapanuli orangutan. And for the communities that depend on the forest.

Their forests, wildlife, clean water and livelihoods are worth more than gold. So, will you watch this short video and help spread the word now?

I know WALHI and the communities they’re supporting will be so grateful for your solidarity today. Thank you.

In determination,

Nick Rau

Campaigner

Friends of the Earth