Causes behind the declining Orangutan population

1. Orangutans; Extinct by
2020?
Researching the causes behind the declining Orangutan population

2. Orangutan Species Headed for
Extinction
IUCN red listed
Decline thought to be caused by human
intervention
Scientists predict extinction within 10
years

3. Population
&
Borneo Distribution
Orangutans
Sub Species:
Pongo Pygmaeus
Abelii
Current
population:
41,000
Distribution:
Island of Borneo,
high distribution
in Kalimantran
Sumatran
Orangutans
Sub Species:
Pongo Pygmaeus
Pygmaeus
Current
population:
7,300
Distribution:
Restricted to
North of Sumatra

6. Long Breeding Cycle
8 year
inter-birth
period
Factors
Contributing
to Long
breeding
cycle
Only
produce 1-
2 offspring
in lifetime
Sexual
maturity not
reached until
15 older
• Longest breeding
cycle of any non-human
primate
• Highly vulnerable to
population decline
• Key stone species
• Vital to biodiversity
of ecosystem

7. Habitat Loss
Palm Oil
Plantations
Conversion of
dense forest to
make way for
palm oil
plantations
Malaysia and
Indonesia
account for 87%
of global palm
oil production
Between 1999-
2007, 83,700
sq. km of
forest was
cleared
Illegal
Logging
Impacts the
economic and
ecological
systems of
optimal forest
management
40-55% timber
logged
throughout
Indonesia and
Malaysia is
illegally sourced
leaves forests less
stable and
productive for
Orangutan
survival

8. Poaching
Illegal Pet
Trade
• 1000-3000 baby Orangutans have been smuggled from
Indonesia and Malaysia for illegal pet trade
• 3-5 orangutans die for every infant that survives the
process
Illegal
Hunting
•Villagers hunt Orangutans as a source of meat in
ignorance of the law
• Orangutans are seen as pests and are often killed if they
stumble upon production sites
Plantations
• Orangutans are considered a threat to profits and may be
captured, injured or killed

9. Successful Conservation
Sepilok Orangutan
Rehabilitation Centre
Founded in 1964
Covers 43 sq. km of protected land
Successful Rehabilitation program
Now home to 60-80 Orangutans
Semenggah Wildlife
Centre
Founded in 1975
Situated within the boundaries of
Semenggah nature reserve
Successful Rehabilitation program
So many Orangutans have been
saved that surrounding forests have
reached capacity

10. Findings
The combined effects of habitat loss and
poaching contributing the population
decline
Conservation efforts have been highly
successful, but not enough to combat the
steady decline
The Orangutan is a key stone species; vital
for preserving the biodiversity of the local
forests ecosystem
If current levels of habitat loss and
poaching continue, the Orangutan species
could reach extinction by 2022

11. Minimising Affects of Habitat Loss
COMMITMENT
TO RSPO
•Global
commitment to
RSPO 100%
certified palm oil
HIGH
CONSERVATION
VALUE
ASSESSMENT
• Criteria 7.3 dictates that
new plantings cannot
replace areas required
to maintain or enhance
one or more High
Conservation Value
CONSERVATION
•Implementation
will ensure areas
high in Orangutan
population are
conserved

12. Combating Illegal Trade & Hunting
 CITES: All import, export, re-export
and introduction from the sea of
species covered by the Convention
and must be authorized through a
licensing system
 CITES enforcement relies on
domestic implementation of
provisions
 Indonesia and Malaysia both have
laws prohibiting the killing of
Orangutans but these must be
properly enforced

13. You Can Help Too!
If you are personally interested in
the survival of the Orangutan
species and wish to help but
don’t know how, please head to
the Orangutan Project website!
They accept donations as little as
$1 that go towards release sites
and rescues centres, to help make
the most of conservation 