I spent much of today working on a new painting titled 'All's Not Lost', which is inspired by the story of Hope the Orangutan. Rescued this week by the team at Orangutan Information Centre, Hope and her baby had been the subject of merciless persecution due to their presence in a palm oil plantation. Hope was badly injured, has been blinded in both eyes. Both she and her baby were traumatised and suffering from malnourishment.

Hope's baby tragically died during the rescue operation, and Hope herself is in intensive care, her body riddled with 74 pellets from air rifle shots and suffering from other traumas including a broken shoulder and large, open gashes. Hope and her sweet baby have been in my heart and on my mind ever since I saw OIC's first post about them. As a mother myself, and as a cell in the body of humanity - a species that is capable of such kindness and yet is also causing so much destruction - their 'story' (much as I hate to call it that) is incredibly poignant. It really makes one despair at the cruelty in the world and simultaneously feel anguish that people are placed in a position where the greed of developed nations and corporations drives them to carry out such dreadful acts...

I'm not posting the most harrowing images of Hope or her baby in acknowledgement that many of us simply cannot bear to see such disturbing content. They are truly heartbreaking, and those images are burned indelibly in my mind. If you do want to find out more about Hope's story and follow the ongoing efforts to save her, please visit the OIC's Page on facebook or their Instagram. A 3 month-old baby named Brenda by the rescuers is also in intensive care having been confiscated in poor health. I do wonder whether these two beautiful souls will be able to help each other back to health...

Once it is completed, I intend to auction this painting to raise funds for Hope and Brenda. All funds raised will go directly towards their care and rehabilitation.
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Please feel free to let me know in the comments below or via my online contact form if you would be interested in bidding on this piece, and please also alert anyone else you think might be interested either in bidding or in Hope's story. Watch this space for updates upon its completion and further details of how to bid.

#SaveOrangutans #SumatranOrangutans #OrangutanRehabilitation #oic #hope #brenda#orangutan #sumatranorangutan #orangutansumatera