There is a nice article in the July 22nd issue of New Scientist which can be seen online at: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327183.700-controversial-palmoil-plan-may-save-the-orangutan.html?full=true&print=true
There are many issues facing the survival of this species both on Borneo and Sumatra, the only two places in the world wild orangutans exist. Habitat loss and severly fragmented habitat from logging and palm oil plantations have taken a heavy toll on the islands populations. Many young animals in both Indonesia and Malaysia end up in rescue centers. These animals are difficult to rehabilitate for release and there are very few places left for them to be released to.
The Houston Zoo actively supports both the Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Program and elephant studies based out of the Danau Girang Field Centre. For more on these programs, go to: http://www.houstonzoo.org/bornean-orangutan-conservation/ and http://www.houstonzoo.org/borneo-elephant-conservation/
Map from New Scientist Article, Sabah, Borneo (Malaysia) http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/archive/2718/27183701.jpg
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I reckon that the poor Orangutans need as much help as they can get right now. I see so many in Asia in really awful housing and more being brought in weekly legally or illegally. It really is at source, the wild, that the problem needs to be solved. There is just too much greed.
I am curious as to how you made your choice of which Orangutan project to support? I find it slightly disturbing that there are 'competing' charities in the same area.
Hi Peter (it's Peter). We made the choice based on the field research they are doing on the ground and how that information has related to helping the Wildlife Dept. make decisions for "protected areas" such as the 26,000ha Lower Kinabatagan Reserve. The group has a strong bond with the local community (village of Sukau) and employs dozens of local villagers for the orangutan program as well as elephant conservation, community education, tree phenology, reforestation, a village based eco-tourism arm and other aspects. They have a long-term committment to the region (now 10-11 years) and the program is sustainable. This fragmented sub-population of 1,000 Orangutans really may have lost more habitat if not for some of the data this group has generated over the years and their partnerships with the Wildlife Department.
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