Orangutan Populations Decreasing at an Alarming Rate

A recent study has shown that orangutan populations in Indonesia, on the only two islands in the world where they still live in the wild, have declined sharply since 2004. The decline is mostly due to illegal logging and the expansion of palm oil plantations, which we wrote about back in April. If urgent action isn’t taken soon, the species may go extinct.

From Wired:

The survey found the orangutan population on Indonesia’s Sumatra island dropped almost 14 percent since 2004, Wich said. It also concluded that the populations on Borneo island, which is shared by Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, have fallen by 10 percent. Researchers only surveyed areas of Borneo that are in Indonesia and Malaysia.

In their study, Wich and his 15 colleagues said the declines in Borneo were occurring at an “alarming rate” but that they were most concerned about Sumatra, where the numbers show the population is in “rapid decline.”

“Unless extraordinary efforts are made soon, it could become the first great ape species to go extinct,” researchers wrote.

Great job, humanity. We’re the presiding species on the planet – the only one capable of protecting all of the other species that we share it with – and we allow things like this to happen, all for our own greed and convenience. Of course, there are those that believe that as humans, we’re entitled to everything on earth, and can use it as we wish without caring what consequences our actions have. If it’s not a person, it’s property, right? Why don’t we take all of those people and put them in livestock pens, dairy cattle enclosures, circus cages or just dump them in the middle of a forest while it’s being cut down by loggers and let them fend for themselves. You know, help Karma along a little.

Link [Wired]
Photo credit: Flickr user exfordy

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