Orangutans are instantly recognizable, and adorable.
But sadly, Orangutans are currently threatened with extinction. They are threatened with extinction due to a number of reasons: mainly deforestation. Orangutans are threatened with deforestation, due, mainly to the Indonesian rainforest being destroyed for palm oil plantations.
Palm oil plantations are used for their palm oil. Palm oil is used in almost everything that we find in our home, - from most of our kitchen foods, to even things like toiletries and cosmetics. This makes palm oil a heavily sought after product, and one which is heavily in demand. Unfortunately, the more that palm oil becomes more sought after, the more rainforest will be destroyed to make way for palm oil plantations for our usage.
The Indonesian rainforest is not the only rainforest in Asia which is being destroyed for palm oil - the Malaysian rainforest is also being destroyed for palm oil. Orangutans are also found in the Malaysian rainforest, which means that Orangutans living within the Malaysian rainforest, are also at risk of extinction due to their rainforest home being destroyed for palm oil.
The Three Species Of Orangutans
There are three species of Orangutans in the wild.
The three species of Orangutans are: the Borneo Orangutan, and the Sumatran Orangutan, and the Tapanuli Orangutan. Both the Sumatran Orangutan, Tapanuli Orangutan and the Borneo Orangutan are all critically endangered species.
As critically endangered species, the Borneo Orangutan, the Tapanuli Orangutan and the Sumatran Orangutan are at risk of extinction. This is particularly true of the Tapanuli Orangutans. There are only thought to be 800 individual Tapanuli Orangutans left in the wild. These wild animals are found in Northern Sumatra - in the Sumatran rainforest. They are the species of Orangutan which is most at risk of extinction.
The Sumatran Orangutan is the second most critically endangered of the three Orangutan species. Sumatran Orangutans are much closer to extinction than their cousins - the Bornean Orangutan. But in a much healthier state than their Tapanuli cousins. Although, Sumatran Orangutans are still vulnerable to extinction.
Today, there are only 14,613 Sumatran Orangutans left in the wild. Sumatran Orangutans are found in the wild in the Sumatran rainforests, in Indonesia.
Sadly, the Sumatran rainforests are being destroyed at an alarming rate. The Sumatran rainforests are being destroyed for several reasons, such as - for palm oil plantations and agricultural reasons, - these rainforests are usually destroyed through what is known as the slash and burn technique; where forests are destroyed by humans through setting fire to them. The slash and burn technique is used by humans because it is the quickest way to destroy the rainforests. This doesn’t just destroy the rainforests, it also destroys and kills all animal life within the rainforests. And Orangutans are one of the victims of slash and burn. Right now, Orangutans are dying because their forest home is being burned.
Slash and burn is one of the main threats to the existence to Orangutans. This is not just true of Sumatras rainforests, it is also true of Borneo’s rainforests, where the burning of Borneo’s rainforests is having a devastating effect on Orangutans. And is something that could push them to extinction in the near future.
The rate at which Orangutans are disappearing is dramatically high. In just 16 short years, there have been 100,000 Borneo Orangutans killed due to their forests being destroyed for things such as palm oil plantations, and mining. The WWF estimates that over half of the Bornean Orangutan population has been wiped out in just over 20 years. If Bornean Orangutans continue to be killed at this rate, then they will become extinct in our lifetime.
Today, there are only 104,700 Bornean Orangutans left in the wild.
Borneo Orangutans also face other threats than deforestation. The other threats that they face is: conflict with humans, and the illegal wildlife trade.
Their Sumatran cousins - the Sumatran Orangutan also faces other threats than deforestation. Sumatran Orangutans face a slightly different threat than Bornean Orangutans. Sumatran Orangutans are also threatened with hunting.
Fun Facts About Orangutans
The name ‘Orangutan’ means ‘man of the forest’.
Wildlife conservationists only discovered a third species of Orangutan in 2017. That third, and new species of Orangutan announced was the Tapanuli Orangutan. The discovery of a large mammal like the Tapanuli Orangutan recently, shows how many species of wild animals that we are probably not aware of - animals which we are not aware of within the rainforests which are smaller than the Tapanuli Orangutan, and Orangutans in general.
Orangutans live in the treetops of the rainforests. As Orangutans live in treetops of the rainforests, they will often open the canopy of the rainforest by breaking off branches within treetop area of the rainforest, for things such as shelter. They live off of things such as fruits and figs that can be found in the rainforests.
Orangutans can live for up to 50 years of age.