The Orangutan population is in decline, researchers have said today. The Orangutan population is in decline in the island of Borneo. This is a worrying report for the Borneo Orangutan, as they are already an endangered species.
There Are Two Species Of Orangutan
One of the Orangutan species is the Sumatran Orangutan. The Sumatran Orangutan is a critically endangered species. The WWF estimates that there are only 14,613 Sumatran Orangutans left in the wild. The Sumatran Orangutan lives in tropical rainforests and subtropical rainforests. The Borneo Orangutan also lives in tropical rainforests, but also in more habitats.
The differences between the species
The Borneo Orangutan has a much more diverse range of habitats than their Sumatran cousins. The Sumatran Orangutan also lives in habitats such as lowland forests, swamp and mountain forests. Their habitats are one difference between both of these Orangutans. There are many more differences. There is also a difference between the behaviour and appearance of both Orangutans. Sumatran Orangutans have longer facial hair than their Bornean Orangutan cousins. Bornean Orangutans are often centred on the ground, whereas, Sumatran Orangutans are mostly seen in the tree top canopies. The result of the research is worrying for both animal rights activists and wildlife conservationists. The team looked at the species and their habitat for over ten years and calculated the change that has taken place within ten years.
What is the threat to them?
The main threat to Orangutans is habitat loss. The habitat loss occurs as a result of forests being destroyed, farming and climate change. The research has highlighted that money is not being effectively spent to stop habitat destruction. They also found that 2,500 Orangutans are killed each year. Which means that they are marching towards extinction.