ORANGUTANS IN DANGER

PALM OIL PRODUCTION IS THREATENING  MALAYSIAN  ORANGUTANS

By Irene  Cáceres

 

These furry and intelligent primates that lived peacefully in the jungles of Sumatra and Borneo are having difficult days. The deforestation caused by palm oil industry is leaving them without their habitat or means to survive.

The orangutan habitat is limited to the islands of Sumatra that are part of Indonesia and Borneo. This territory is divided between Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. It is also the most arboreal primate. Its existence depends on the rainforest jungle where they live in the wild.

The problem is that Malaysia and Indonesia are both major producers of palm oil, these countries  have become the greatest enemies of orangutans by enabling the land for the plantations, and they are destroying thousands of hectares of virgin forest. In the past decade the population has dropped by 50%. 

Currently there are only 20,000 specimens, and it is estimated that the species could become extinct in a few years if action is not taken.

80% of Indonesian forest has been burned or cleared to make way for Elaeis guineensis, the palm species from which the oil is extracted.

Scientists have concluded that although orangutans have adapted better than expected, despite cases of malnutrition and conflict with the humans, the palm plantations do not have capacity to accommodate  large populations of primates.

When a forest is turned to agricultural land, orangutans lose living space and access to funding sources. If they don’t want to die by the deforesting, they have to migrate to seek refuge in neighboring jungles.

Besides, clashes between apes and the crop workers are more frequent. Many are afraid of orangutans and sometimes workers kill them, even though it is a protected species. Even at this present era there are people who hunt them for meat. The males have been used for centuries to combat burlesque boxing and females are prostituted.

Finally, if forest protection measures are not taken, there is no hope for orangutans.  

According to Ancrenaz "it is necessary for the palm oil industry to respect some areas of the forests where orangutans live,  so that they  may have mobility, access to food and the chance to mate with individuals from other groups".