Bornean Orangutan is one of the vital priceless natural treasures of Asia. This chief is endemic for the island of Borneo, which suggests that it can’t be found anywhere else on the planet.
As certainly one of the three species of orangutan in Indonesia, together with sumatranic orangutans and tapanuli, Bornean Orangutan has characteristic features that distinguish him, from the scale of the body and color of the fur to the unique behavioral features.
Often called the “forest man”, this chief shares unusual anatomical similarities with people, including the power to make use of easy tools and display complex social intelligence.
Bornean Orangutan can also be known for his or her slow reproductive indicator. A girl often gives birth just once every eight years, due to which each and every latest person is amazingly priceless for survival of the species. However, today the existence of Bornean Orangutan hangs on the thread.
Decline in population and threats
According to the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation, the present population of Bornean Orangutans is estimated at around 57,350 people, a drastic decrease from around 288 500 in 1973. This is a decrease of 80% in lower than five a long time. The important reason for this violent decline is the lack of a forest habitat, which for the species serves as each the source of the home and food.
In the years 1973–2010 Borneo lost almost 39% of its forests resulting from the massive desecration of the extension of palm oil plantation, extraction, acquisition and development of cities. The production of palm oil itself increased fifteen times in 1980–2014, exerting much more pressure on other tropical rainforests.
Seasonal forest fires and the consequences of climate change have further deteriorated orangutan habitats, which makes them an increasing number of prone to conflicts with people.
Hunting and illegal trafficking in wildlife are increased by the threats faced by Boran Orangutan. The infant of orangutans are sometimes caught for the exotic trade of pets, while adults are sometimes killed illegally during human conflicts. These pressure shows that legal protection itself is insufficient to guard this unusual species.
Legal protection status
All species of orangutan are listed within the attachment and convention of international trade in endangered species of untamed fauna and flora (CITES), which indicates the very best level of protection against international trade.
In Indonesia, Orangutan are also protected by domestic law. However, despite these provisions, the enforcement of the law stays limited and has not yet stopped the true threats that the orangutants faced.
The International Union of Nature Conservation (IUCN) classifies all three species, Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli Orangutans as “critically threatened”.
While hunting was historically the important threat, the destruction of habitats is currently the important reason behind the decline within the population. The solution to this challenge requires a comprehensive approach to protection, which incorporates governments, non -governmental organizations, industries and native communities.
Why protect orangutans matter
The orangutants play a key role in maintaining the balance of tropical rainwater ecosystems. They act as natural seed dispersion, helping forests to regenerate and supply habitats for other species. The lack of orangutans would disturb ecosystems which have evolved for 1000’s of years.
The protection of the Borneński Orangutan will not be nearly saving one species, it’s about preserving the tropical forests of Borneo, often called the “lungs of the earth”.
Every protection effort, from supporting protected areas and monitoring sustainable palm oil practices to public educational campaigns, directly contributes to the survival of this iconic chief.
How are you able to help
The excellent news is that there are a lot of ways to support orangutan protection:
- Support protection and rehabilitation programs through reputable organizations.
- Raise awareness of the threats that orangutans face in social media or in local communities.
- Choose environmentally friendly products that don’t harm habitats of rainforests, akin to certified balanced palm oil.
Each person can play a task. Bornean Orangutan is the one great monkey of Asia, and the actions we take today will determine whether the amazing primates still live in Borneo forests for future generations.
