Orangutans, which some scientists believe are second only to humans in intelligence, could be the first great ape to go extinct if swift action isn’t taken to conserve their rainforest habitat and protect them from poachers, according to a new survey.
The orange-furred primates live in the wild on only two islands, Sumatra and Borneo. The survey, which was conducted by the Great Ape Trust and will be published this month in the journal Oryx [subscription required], alarmed researchers because it showed that orangutan populations have plummeted in just the last few years. It found that the number of orang-utans on Sumatra island in Indonesia has fallen by 14 per cent since 2004 to only 6,600 animals…. In Malaysia’s Borneo island, the largest home of the species, numbers fell by 10 per cent in the same period to 49,600 apes [Telegraph].
The expansion of palm plantation is the primary cause of the dramatic decline, according to the study, although hunting and illegal logging are also to blame [The Christian Science Monitor]. Palm plantations have become a vital part of the economy in Indonesia and Malaysia, as the palm oil can be used as a biofuel, which is considered a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to petroleum fuels.
Although the study’s authors are clearly deeply concerned about the orangutan’s future, they say there are some hopeful signs of government action. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced a major initiative to save the nation’s orangutans at a U.N. climate conference last year, and [a local] governor declared a moratorium on logging. Coupled with that are expectations that Indonesia will protect millions of acres of forest as part of any U.N. climate pact that will go into effect in 2012. The deal is expected to include measures that will reward tropical countries like Indonesia that halt deforestation [AP].
Image: flickr/ltshears
July 9th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Learn how you can help save the orangutans.
Adopt an orphaned orangutan today!
Visit the Orangutan Outreach website: http://redapes.org
Richard Zimmerman
Director, Orangutan Outreach
Reach out and save the orangutans!
July 9th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
It is often asked, “How many orangutans are left?” The numbers themselves do not matter. What matters is that the rate of decline is increasing, and unless something is done, the wild orangutan will go extinct. Once remaining populations become so small and fragmented, there will be no way to recover the species, as these small populations will be genetically unviable in the long run.
What also matters is the welfare angle of this decline 5000 are dying unnaturally–either from starvation as a result of habitat destruction or from human-wildlife conflict. Working with orangutans for 14 years now, I see them as individuals capable of emotions and pain. The loss of just one of these is heartbreaking. 5000 is genocide.
We have a moral obligation to save these sentient, intelligent cousins of ours from this brutality. I do not subscribe to the view that we need to keep orangutan numbers up so our children have a chance to see them in the wild. Orangutans do not exist for our benefit. They themselves have a right to life, regardless of whether we get the added benefit of gazing upon them in their world one day.
The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation is the largest primate rescue project in the world. We look after close to 1000 rescued orangutans presently, and have rescued and released more than 1000 others so far. We are the only organisation actively rescuing the wild orangutans from certain death in these oil-palm plantations. 2 weeks ago we released a further 25 wild orangutans rescued from oil-palm plantations into a remote protected forest in the north of Central Kalimantan. This release site could potentially support more than 1000 orangutans, making it a viable population. BOS also manages the Mawas Reserve, a forest of 360,000 hectares, home to some 3500 wild orangutans. If BOS can continue to protect populations like those in our release site and in Mawas, we can prevent the extinction of the orangutan in the wild. Find out more at www.savetheorangutan.co.uk.
Michelle Desilets
Founding Director
Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation UK
July 10th, 2008 at 2:12 am
The issue of oil palm plantations is beyond the scope of just the Indonesian government, which is caught in the skyrocketing demand for palm oil. International companies are involved in non-sustainable oil palm production, logging pristine rainforest and end users, both for the logs and the palm oil, are yet to stop and require only sustainable agriculture. If everyone blindly increases their use of palm oil without making a distinction between destructive and sustainable plantations, the rainforest will be destroyed and along with that the critically endangered Sumatran orangutans, tigers, elephants and rhinoceros. The battle for their survival is currently in the hands of those whose interest in making money is much greater than their interest in conservation. Only consumer pressure can change the balance. Urgent change is needed.
July 10th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Well, as an Indonesian I agree that the palm oil plantation and illegal logging are two major factor that destruct the ballance of our nature, the tropical rain forests, and also I agree with Joyce that consumer pressure to any products that using palm oil (such as dove) is needed. Currently the Indonesian Greenpeace with help from International friends are pushing the Unilever to change their palm oil policy and demand them to stop deforestation of Indonesian tropical rain forests.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Greenpeace protesters certainly do dress to impress! Here’s a photo of them hanging out in front of the Unilever corporate headquarters: http://tinyurl.com/6ftvrc
And an article about the protest: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/apr/21/wildlife