ORANGUTAN

Orang-hutan, the “person of the forest” are highly intelligent great apes that share most of the genes with Homo sapiens, as well as the famous opposing thumbs, hence the ability to make and use simple tools. They also tend their offspring for 6 years; one of the longest timeframes in the animal-kingdom, only surpassed by elephants and humans.

However, orangutan populations are plummeting. Their greatest threat comes from deforestation to make place for oil palm tree plantations - the most destructive type of all crops. As the rate of demand for the cheap palm oil is ever increasing in food and cosmetic products, the apes are soon left with no place and time to bring up new generations. The once undivided orangutan population is now scattered in 21 isolated groups on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Human interference (or the immidiate ceasing of it) is crucial for their survival.