How to Help Save Orangutans from Extinction

Only an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 orangutans are left in the wild, and their numbers are rapidly decreasing.

A 2003 "National Geographic News" article reported that the orangutan, which shares 96.4 percent of its DNA with humans, may be extinct in the wild as early as 2023, if the factors contributing to this trend are not changed. Ultimately, the most prominent cause of this trend toward orangutan extinction is human activity, particularly the destruction of the Sumatran and Bornean rain forests, illegal hunting and the illegal pet trade. While most of these issues require local action, everyone can help fight against the extinction of this close cousin of humanity.

Things You'll Need

• Internet access
• Credit card (optional)
• Cell phone (optional)

Instructions

1. Avoid products made with non-sustainable palm oil. The rise of the palm oil industry in Malaysia and Indonesia has had a disastrous effect on orangutan survival. While sustainable agricultural techniques have counterbalanced this effect in some plantations, many products are still made with palm oil from plantations using non-sustainable techniques. The non-sustainable plantations contribute to the destruction of the orangutan's habitat, as the only way their production can be increased is expansion, destroying more rain forest. Lists of products using non-sustainable palm oil can be found online. (See Resources.)

2. Do not buy ramin wood. Illegal logging is a major problem in Indonesia and Malaysia, which contributes to the destruction of the orangutan habitat. The primary focus of the global market for illegally logged Bornean and Sumatran wood is ramin (Gonystylus), and, according to a 2004 report by the Species Survival Network, 90 percent of the wood logged in Indonesia is logged illegally. While the governments in the region have dedicated themselves to protecting their natural heritages, they face difficulties with enforcement. Often, impoverished villagers will illegally log national parks when the national authorities are not in the area, as a means to earn extra money.

3. Refrain from keeping orangutans as pets. While it is legally acceptable to have captive-born orangutans as pets in many jurisdictions, the keeping of wild-born orangutans as pets is strictly prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The reason for this prohibition is simple -- the removal of specimens from the wild decreases the wild population and, in turn, the number of wild births of orangutans (keep in mind that a female orangutan will typically only give birth once every seven to nine years), bringing the species closer to extinction. About 1,000 Bornean orangutans are thought to be smuggled into Java and out of Indonesia each year, and it is, as always, difficult to tell where black markets and legitimate markets may intersect.

4. Donate to orangutan causes. Many organizations actively work to save orangutans from extinction. One of the most prominent of these is the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation, whose Nyaru Menteng rehabilitation site was featured in the BBC series "Orangutan Diary" and the Animal Planet series "Orangutan Island". The Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) is another notable organization working toward helping orangutans survive. Due to the cost of rehabilitating and releasing orangutans, these organizations take donations. You can donate to BOS directly or through any of its sister organizations throughout the world and you can donate to OFI directly. (See Resources.) You can also donate $10 to OFI by texting "ape" or "orangutan" to 20222.

5. Adopt an orangutan. In addition to traditional donations, the BOS also allows individuals to "adopt" an orangutan for a monthly or annual fee. What this entails is that, if you adopt an orangutan, the BOS will keep you informed of developments in that orangutan's rehabilitation.

Tips & Warnings

• As with all other matters of social concern, beware of fraudulent organizations masquerading as charities. Always take time to investigate whether an organization is legitimate before giving it money.

References

• "National Geographic News": Wild Orangutans: Extinct by 2023?
• Orangutan Foundation International: Why is the Orangutan in Danger?
• Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society: Palm Oil Crisis
• Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Illegal Logging in Indonesia
• Species Survival Network: Ramin
• Orangutan Outreach: Orangutans: From illegal trade to conservation

Resources

• Palm Oil Product List
• BOS International
• BOS Australia
• BOS UK
• Orangutan Outreach (BOS sister organization in the US)
• Orangutan Foundation International