Orangutans Are Under Grave Threat

In the past, orangutans were widely distributed throughout South East Asia and even into what is now southern China. The orangutans were able to travel freely across great distances because the majority of the land was previously covered by enormous, continuous rainforest regions.

The undisturbed rainforest now only exists in a relatively small percentage of intact areas due to logging and human growth. Due to human impact, orangutan populations are declining. The three main human-caused threats are poaching, fires, and forest damage. The majority of Asia's natural woods have vanished. Cities, communities, and palm oil plantations have taken their place. As the forest businesses unlawfully clear the trees without the permission of the government or the local populace, who depend on the forest for their subsistence, vast regions are also disappearing.

Burning the land first is a frequent practice while establishing plantations. These deliberate fires have frequently escalated out of control throughout the years, wreaking massive havoc in their wake. The fires kill a lot of orangutans since they have little way of escaping. Another barrier to the orangutan's continued existence is poaching. While the flesh from the adults is consumed, the newborns are marketed as exotic pets. Even though it is forbidden to kill, capture, or sell orangutans, it nevertheless happens frequently, making it incredibly challenging to resolve the issue.