Orangutans are one of the world’s most intelligent species of great apes. Their DNA is 97% the same as human DNA. Its easy to see their startling similarities to us just by watching one move around and interact with its environment. A disastrous annihilation is happening to these furry cousins of ours. Their population is rapidly dwindling. Orangutans used to inhabit rain forests all over Southeast Asia. Now, they are confined to just two tiny islands in Indonesia; Borneo and Sumatra . Only 60,000 orangutans are living in the wild today, and approximately five of them die every day, not including deaths due to natural causes. In 1997, devastating forest fires swept through southeast Asia, blackening the once lush, fertile land. This natural disaster wiped out a third of the orangutan population, and now some not-so-natural disasters are diminishing their numbers again. Contributing factors in their decline are the illegal pet trade, poaching for black market meat, and most of all, deforestation to make land suitable for palm oil plantations .
If nothing is done, orangutans could be completely extinct in the next ten to fifteen years. Saving Orangutans Society focuses specifically on educating the greater public about palm oil, and what it is doing to orangutans. Further explore our website to learn more and see what you can do to help!
If nothing is done, orangutans could be completely extinct in the next ten to fifteen years. Saving Orangutans Society focuses specifically on educating the greater public about palm oil, and what it is doing to orangutans. Further explore our website to learn more and see what you can do to help!