Hi, Time Travellers!
As you can see…
I’ve got a real exciting adventure ahead!
Commander Zorro, you are going to introduce me, right?
Of Course!
Time Adventurers, let me introduce…
Professor Harry, a critically endangered Orangutan!
The Professor has granted me this interview for several reasons…Professor take it away!
OK! First I wish you to know that I represent all critically endangered Orangutans both from Borneo and Sumatra. Let me fill you on some facts. Orangutans are found only in the rain forests of the Southeast Asian islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Do you know where the word ‘orangutan’ comes from? No? In the Malay language Orangutan translates to ‘man of the forest’ As the world’s largest tree-dwelling mammal and with our long, muscular arms gripping hands, and feet which helps us to sway branch to branch, we spend nearly our entire lives in trees—swinging in tree tops and building nests for sleep.
Though we differ in appearance we’re still in the same kettle of fish. Bornean orangutan populations have declined by more than 60% since 1950, and the species’ habitat has been reduced by at least 55% over the past 20 years. The Bornean and Sumatran orangutans are listed as critically Endangered and numbers approximately 41,000, while the Sumatran orangutan with an estimated population of 7,500. A century ago, more than 230,000 orangutans likely roamed in the wild.
I’ve prepared a photo album of my orangutan brethern for your Time Travellers …then you recount to them why we are critically endangered Deal? Deal!
Wow, thanks for the look at your photos, Professor!
The destruction of rain forest through logging (legal and Illegal), and mining, has caused the loss of natural habitat for countless species. Deforestation…now that an interesting word…Why?
Did you know that the greatest threat to the Orangutans is palm oil?
Palm Oil is being used in food products, engine lubricants a base for cosmetics. It is also being used for biofuel. Where does the major source of this product came from? You got it in one…Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Oil-palm plantations now cover millions of hectares!
Oil palm is the most productive oil seed in the world! Here’s an example: A single hectare of oil palm can yield 5,000 kilograms or nearly 6,000 liters of cruse oil!
Why is Palm Oil replacing tropical rainforests?
The answer is: ECONOMICS!
For example, in Indonesia, currently the world’s second largest producer of palm oil, oil-palm plantations covered 5.3 million hectares of the country in 2004. In economic terms, these plantation generated 11.4 million metric tons of crude palm oil with an export value of US$4.43 Billion and brought in $42.4 million (officially) to the Indonesian treasury in 2004.
BUT…
When a hectare of primary rain forest is cleared and replace with oil palms, this releases around 65 TIMES as much carbon into the atmosphere as can be save annually by using the pal oil as a biofuel. Food for thought! Peat and forest fires cause around three times as much greenhouse gas emissions. This affects EVERYONE!
Let’s take a look at the word…”Deforestation” again and who it affects..in pictures…
*Note: this video contains disturbing images
Not a very pretty site is it?
In addition to all this as if that wasn’t enough illegal wildlife trade poaching orangutan infants and killing their mothers, and hunting for meat and mining also threatens the species.leading to decreased numbers.
As more rain forest is cut down, the animals who live there lose their food supply. You see, the Orangutans remember their old feeding grounds, because they usually go back to them every few years. When they return, their forest is no longer there…replaced by a palm plantation. They become disoriented and confused are often as not killed. Orangutans live all their live in trees and very rarely come to ground. Only in times when food is not
This is what orangutans have to look forward to….
And that is the more fortunate ones…
a picture us worth a thousand words…
*Note: this video contains disturbing images
It doesn’t have to end like this!
There are ways of producing sustainable palm oil without endangering the environment , saving and protecting the rain forests, the animals who live there and the people who depend on the natural forest to live!
OK…Time Travellers…I’m going to hang out with the Orangutans for awhile!
Commander Zorro … Swinging out! Until next time!