HOUSTON, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ION Geophysical Corporation today announced its latest commitment to environmental conservation by becoming the first corporate sponsor of the Pongos Helping Pongos program, a Houston Zoo initiative that supports the critically endangered orangutan species on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. ION is committed to environmental sustainability, with this sponsorship merely the latest expression of its intent to support the communities in which it operates.
Pongos Helping Pongos, featuring 'Paintings by Orangutans, for Orangutans,' is a program with numerous benefits. Orangutans at the Houston Zoo are given an opportunity to express their innate creativity and intelligence by producing works of art, while proceeds generated from artwork sales support field conservation efforts at Indonesia's Gunung Palung National Park and Malaysia's Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. To date, the Houston Zoo has raised nearly $50,000 for these two conservation areas, which represent some of the last remaining natural habitats for wild orangutans.
"Several leading zoos have pioneered the concept of having their animals paint," stated Peter Riger, Assistant Director of Conservation at the Houston Zoo. "We expanded on this simple concept by incorporating the sale of the artwork once it is created by the animals. Now, our orangutans not only have an outlet for their creativity, but they also have a means of generating both interest in their well-being and funds that supports other orangutans in the wild. Our Houston Zoo orangutans are now playing an integral part in a cross-border conservation program and acting as ambassadors for their species. Our aspiration to make the Houston Zoo a leader in protecting threatened wildlife and helping all of us appreciate our natural world is being acknowledged by zoo visitors and, quite honestly, by others around the world who may never have had the opportunity to visit us in Houston. The Pongos Helping Pongos program is one of the many initiatives we are leading to support conservation around the world."
"We are excited to be collaborating with the Houston Zoo on the Pongos program," says Chris Friedemann, Senior Vice President, ION Corporate Marketing. "Not only does the initiative support a great cause like environmental conservation, it also demonstrates the innovative mindset that is core to ION. Our employees take great pride in protecting the environment and supporting the communities in which we operate. It's a privilege for us to help the Houston Zoo expand the awareness and potential impact of their Pongos program."
The Houston Zoo is gearing up for its 3rd annual Pongos Helping Pongos silent auction event to be held on the evening of March 29, 2008 at the G Gallery in the Houston Heights district. Animal art will be on display and silently auctioned for the purpose of raising awareness and funds for animal conservation, welfare and humanitarian aid around the world.
For more information about the event and the Houston Zoo's conservation mission, visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/php/.
About ION Community Affairs
As ION continues to expand its global presence, the company has made it a priority to take a growing leadership role in community affairs. Environmental conservation, community involvement and educational support are three of the cornerstones of ION's community affairs initiatives, with the Pongos Helping Pongos sponsorship joining past commitments to the Fund for Teachers and the SEG Online initiatives. In addition to these sponsorships, ION remains committed to the positive treatment of the Earth's natural resources by continually reducing the company's environmental impact through numerous recycling and conservation efforts. For more information, visit http://www.iongeo.com/About_Us/Community_Affairs/
About ION
ION is a leading provider of geophysical technology, services, and solutions for the global oil & gas industry. ION's offerings allow E&P operators to obtain higher resolution images of the subsurface to reduce the risk of exploration and reservoir development, and enable seismic contractors to acquire geophysical data more efficiently. Additional information about ION is available at http://www.iongeo.com/.
About the Houston Zoo
Founded in 1922, the Houston Zoo is an exciting live animal adventure that provides a unique educational and conservation resource serving 1.5 million guests annually. Set in a 55-acre lush tropical landscape, the Zoo is home to more than 4,500 exotic animals representing more than 800 species. Operated by the not-for-profit Houston Zoo, Inc., the Houston Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species, the provision of engaging educational opportunities and the creation of stimulating exhibits that broaden the experiences of our guests and encourage their curiosity.
Contact
ION (Community Affairs)
Director - Corporate Marketing
Kelly Kline, +1 281.468.5224
