Orangutans live in the forests of Borneo and Sumatra. Their numbers have dropped dramatically in recent years due to persecution from humans and these peaceable apes are now classified as an endangered species. There are around 50,000 orangutans left in Borneo and only 7000 in North Sumatra. The main cause for the drop in numbers is destruction of orangutan habit caused by deforestation and the expansion of unsustainable palm oil plantations.
Palm oil is incredibly versatile and can be found in all sorts of products including biscuits, toothpaste, make up and crayons. Palm oil is only produced in Indonesia and Malaysia and millions of hectares of prime orangutan habitat have been cleared so that the farmers can expand their plantations and meet ever-growing demand. Loss of habitat means that orangutans lose their home and have less food to eat. Illegal fires are often set to clear the land and provide fertilizing ash for the plantation. This can result in orangutan deaths and is also dangerous for human and animal health.
Orangutans are seen as pests by palm oil farmers and the apes are often killed to stop them foraging for new shoots or eating mature plants.
Another major threat to orangutans is large-scale logging. This is an expanding industry due to the high demand for hardwood. Other than loss of habitat the orangutans are also affected when loggers create access roads into the forest. These roads enable illegal hunters to access the area where the orangutans live and hunt them for food or sport.
Palm oil plantations and large-scale logging combined have resulted in orangutans losing 80% of their habitat in the last 20 years.
Orangutans are now protected by law and it is illegal to hunt them. Nevertheless illegal hunting is commonplace and hunting orangutans becomes easier, as they are forced to the ground when they lose their homes. Orangutans are slow moving and an easy target for hunters.
Orangutans are a victim of the illegal pet trade. Mother orangutans are brutally killed by the personnel who wish to obtain her infant. The traumatized baby is then sold to a wildlife trafficker and begins the harrowing journey to one of several international markets where they will be sold. The journey to market is often long and it is estimated that for every orangutan that is sold at market, another 6 die on the way, due to poor care. Baby orangutans may be easy to sell, but as the baby grows up they become big and harder to handle. The owner often loses interest and will keep the orangutan in appalling and unsuitable conditions.
If this destruction of habitat and abuse of orangutans continues the species faces extinction in ten to twenty years time. Luckily there are several orangutan sanctuaries that operate in Borneo and Sumatra. Sanctuaries such as Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary in Borneo, rescue baby orangutans that have been forced into the pet trade and work to rehabilitate them. They also campaign against the palm oil industry and educate the public on conservation of the orangutan.
There are several things you can do to help change the future for orangutans. Donating to an orangutan sanctuary, such as Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, is a great way to help out. They have minimal funding and every contribution helps.
You can also purchase palm oil free products. This means taking some time to check ingredients on food and other products that you buy. If you find out one of your favorite products includes palm oil, contact the manufacturers to find out more and inform them that you will not purchase their product again until they introduce sustainable methods of palm oil farming, or change their ingredients.
Inform family and friends of the threats facing orangutans and how the products they buy contribute to the destruction of orangutan habitat. Orangutans are amazing animals and if we act now we could still save them from extinction.
