American Paper Optics helps Philadelphia Zoo present “The Trail of the Lorax”

Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax” was written more than 40 years ago but its cautionary tale of environmental stewardship remains relevant.

Now the Philadelphia Zoo is using the story, long a standard in environmental education, as the basis of a 3D exhibit drawing attention to a very real situation that parallels the Lorax’s story. The orangutans, found only in tropical forests on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, are critically endangered because native forests are being destroyed for palm oil plantations, which produce the thick oil used in many of our products from packaged food to cosmetics.

The primates could face extinction by 2025. An estimated 80 percent of orangutan habitat has been destroyed in the last 20 years, and there are only an estimated 6,600 orangutans left in the wild.

The zoo has partnered with Dr. Seuss Enterprises as well as American Paper Optics for the “The Trail of the Lorax,” which leads visitors on a 3D treasure hunt to eight stations throughout the zoo, at which they can learn about orangutans and what they can do to help save them from extinction. The exhibit, which runs through Oct. 31, also includes a mini-movie based on the new film that features the voices of Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron and Berks County native Taylor Swift.

“[Dr. Seuss] was ahead of his time when he wrote ‘The Lorax’ and the message is more important today than ever,” says Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises. “We are proud to partner with the Philadelphia Zoo to bring the story of ‘The Lorax’ to life and introduce a real world situation to children.”

Children receive 3-D glasses as they enter the zoo and use them to see 3-D images that have been expertly converted by American Paper Optics at each station. They also can use the glasses to uncover a secret message at each station imparting fun facts about orangutans.