Conservationists have been issuing warnings that thanks to palm oil companies burning down plantation in peat swamp forests hundreds of Sumatran orangutans could die.
The animals are in Western Indonesia and experts believe that there are around 200 in the Tripa forest which is in the Aceh province.
Unfortunately this part of the world has plantations with palm oil trees around it which is why companies harvesting the oil are now clearing the area with fire to get to them.
Before palm oil plantations were developed in the area the population of these animals was around 2,000. However this number has been drastically depleted due to forest clearance. As the animal’s natural habitat is being destroyed they will either be killed by fire, die through malnutrition and starvation of they could be killed or captured by people in the surrounding area.
Ian Singleton who is currently the conservation director for the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program was quoted as saying:
“They are just barely hanging on. It is no longer several years away, but a few months or even weeks before this iconic creature disappears.”
Right now the numbers of Sumantran orangutans in the wild is thought to be around 6,600 and this number is getting smaller and smaller each year.
Groups such as Rainforest Rescue are working in the area to save the orangutans however as the animals will sleep high up in trees overnight on platforms they have made it is sometimes difficult to get to them in time.
Thankfully they are seeing some positives results in the area where they have been able to restore the habitat of these creatures so that they can go back to where they previously lived and be healthy and happy. This work can only continue through support and donations made to the cause.
If you’d like to help you can do so by adopting an orangutan.
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