Hello! My name is Jason DeGrauwe and I'm from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
I've been an advocate for orangutan conservation/welfare since I was 15 years old. I created Deforestation Education in 2012 as an educational tool to help raise much needed awareness about the ever growing crisis of deforestation due to palm oil. In doing so, I hope to help save amazing wildlife and their rainforest home.
I'm a co-creator of World Orangutan Events, a non-partisan initiative that promotes orangutan conservation and welfare, as well as inter organization cooperation. It's overseen by The Orangutan Project, Orangutan Outreach, Orangutan Land Trust, and Orangutan Republic Foundation. I helped create International Orangutan Day, August 19th of every year. This day was created as a global celebration for orangutans and to raise much needed attention and awareness in the plight of orangutan survival. #OrangutanDay
I have worked in animal welfare and conservation for most of my life. When I was 14 years old I hand-fed and raised baby birds and sold pet supplies with my former business Cage Buddies Birds and Supplies. I volunteered at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, and then worked at the Center for Great Apes, in Wauchula, FL. I was a Zookeeper at the Pine Grove Zoo in Little Falls, MN for 5 years caring for many remarkable species and being part of a training program using positive reinforcement with operant conditioning clicker training, providing the animals to participate freely in their own health care.
Since I don't have the funds to travel to Borneo or Sumatra to help orangutans in the front lines, I'm doing all I can from 12,000 miles away to help make a positive difference.
I believe that Awareness is a KEY essential to help make a positive difference.
Life outside of conservation...
I have two amazing children that I love very much, named Lydia Paizley DeGrauwe and Zayden JJ DeGrauwe and their names and footprints are tattooed to my left arm. I live in central Minnesota on a small hobby farm with 4 cats, 2 dogs, and 3 parrots. I'm engaged to a wonderful women who loves me very much and we have been together since 2020. I now work in health care to help pay the bills due to inflation. I still firmly believe that what you do makes a difference, you just have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. I'm trying to make a positive impact in my children's life and the world around me. In my free time, I'm spending time with my family, or doing conservation efforts, or riding my motorcycle. I sadly have not been able to be in my daughters' life as much as I want to be and it kills me every day, but I work every day to get better and be better hoping one day I can be more active in her life. I love you Lydia!
My Inspiration
Growing up I have always loved going to the zoo to see all the amazing animals. I was especially fond of the Orangutans and over time sitting and watching them I became friends with a female orangutan named Amanda.
(Amanda is 1 of 5 orangutans at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory and is the one that inspired me to help!)
Above Amanda's exhibit was a sign that said "Endangered Animal" and that made me wonder why. I did a lot of research to find out that humans started all of their problems with Logging, Unsustainable Palm Oil Plantations, and the illegal pet trade.
After conducting more research I realized that most people are unaware of the issues facing orangutans and their rainforest home. If most people are not aware of an issue happening, how is it going to resolve?
After ALL the research and ALL the questions I finally figured out how I could help make a positive difference for these beautiful red apes...
BY HELPING RAISE MUCH NEEDED AWARENESS!
I believe that Awareness is a KEY essential to help save these wonderful creatures and their rainforest home.
Please join me and continue this mission by telling everyone you know about the problems affecting these beautiful red apes and their rainforest home.
Thank you so much for your support!
