Orangutans are being killed at such an alarming rate, experts believe they could be extinct in the next ten years. See what you can do to help.
United States of America (Press Release) May 9, 2008 --
The dense rainforests of Borneo Indonesia are disappearing at an alarming rate. In the late 80’s and early 90’s most of the resources farmed from the Borneo forests went to the United States and Japan. Now, as more and more countries become industrialized, such as China, the demand for resources has exploded. Places like the rainforests of Borneo are suffering the consequences.
Experts believe that at the current rate, only 32.6 percent of the Borneo’s rainforests will remain by the year 2020. As it is now, over half of Borneo’s rainforest has disappeared since 1980. Thirty years ago, the rainforests were used for their timber, although still being used for timber, palm oil has become the most sought after agricultural commodity farmed from the forest’s of southeast Asia. Malaysia and Indonesia, where the Borneo rainforests are located, are the largest exporters of palm oil.
Because of the deforesting occurring in Borneo, there are about 21 critically threatened animal species and well over 150 animal species that are classified as threatened. Orangutans are only found in the Borneo rainforests. Once their rainforest disappears, so do they. Although this article is about the Orangutan, the truth is there are numerous other animals that will disappear with the rainforests too, such as the Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran Rhino, Asian Elephants and several others.
People do not realize how important our planet’s rainforests are. Tropical rainforests are home to more than 70 percent of our planets animal and plant species. Rainforest’s help moderate and control our planets climate. The rainforests play a huge role in exchanging atmospheric carbon for oxygen. Destroying the rainforests are not just bad for the plants and animals living there, it is bad for the entire planet.
Orangutan is the Malaysia word for “man of the jungle.” Orangutans can live up to 50 years in the wild, much longer in captivity. Under optimal conditions a female will only bear at most, 4 offspring in her lifetime. Orangutans typically spend their lives living in the trees of the rainforest. They are adept at moving from tree to tree and can travel great distances without ever touching the ground.
The Orangutan will generally spend their day searching for and eating food. They typically eat fruits found from the various plant life in the rainforests. At night, the Orangutan will bed down in trees, constructing nests from broken branches and leaves. Orangutans live in ranges of various size. Males are generally solitary, until they mate with a female. About one square mile of healthy rainforest is needed to support two Orangutans. For a viable healthy subpopulation of Orangutans (approximately 500 Orangutans), an average of 300 square miles of rainforest is needed.
Because of the deforestation, encroachment of humans, domestic animals (ie dogs), and palm oil plantations, well over half of the Orangutan population has been destroyed. Experts believe that it is quite possible that the Orangutan will be extinct in as little as ten years.
Fortunately there are several organizations that are trying to do something for the Orangutans. The Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is one of those organizations. They are located in Borneo and are doing what they can to save as many lives of Orangutans as possible. Animal Planet ran a special a few nights ago, showing the center and delving into the many problems faced by the Orangutans and their rescue workers. Most of the people working at the center are volunteers and are doing what they can for these poor desperate animals. Many of the Orangutans brought to the center are severely sick and/or injured. Quite frankly, it makes me very angry to see what fellow humans are doing to these poor defenseless animals.
The Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is in desperate need of funding. The money is needed for food, medicine and many other important supplies for the Orangutans. If we do not step up and help the Orangutan, who will? I am not a member or affiliated with the center in any way whatsoever, I am simply a guy that owns a website related to animals and found a cause that I believe is worth our time. Please visit www.savetheorangutan.org to see how you can help.
For more information and news about the animals we share our world with, visit www.crittert-shirts.com
Contact:
Heath Johnson, webmaster
Experts believe that at the current rate, only 32.6 percent of the Borneo’s rainforests will remain by the year 2020. As it is now, over half of Borneo’s rainforest has disappeared since 1980. Thirty years ago, the rainforests were used for their timber, although still being used for timber, palm oil has become the most sought after agricultural commodity farmed from the forest’s of southeast Asia. Malaysia and Indonesia, where the Borneo rainforests are located, are the largest exporters of palm oil.
Because of the deforesting occurring in Borneo, there are about 21 critically threatened animal species and well over 150 animal species that are classified as threatened. Orangutans are only found in the Borneo rainforests. Once their rainforest disappears, so do they. Although this article is about the Orangutan, the truth is there are numerous other animals that will disappear with the rainforests too, such as the Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran Rhino, Asian Elephants and several others.
People do not realize how important our planet’s rainforests are. Tropical rainforests are home to more than 70 percent of our planets animal and plant species. Rainforest’s help moderate and control our planets climate. The rainforests play a huge role in exchanging atmospheric carbon for oxygen. Destroying the rainforests are not just bad for the plants and animals living there, it is bad for the entire planet.
Orangutan is the Malaysia word for “man of the jungle.” Orangutans can live up to 50 years in the wild, much longer in captivity. Under optimal conditions a female will only bear at most, 4 offspring in her lifetime. Orangutans typically spend their lives living in the trees of the rainforest. They are adept at moving from tree to tree and can travel great distances without ever touching the ground.
The Orangutan will generally spend their day searching for and eating food. They typically eat fruits found from the various plant life in the rainforests. At night, the Orangutan will bed down in trees, constructing nests from broken branches and leaves. Orangutans live in ranges of various size. Males are generally solitary, until they mate with a female. About one square mile of healthy rainforest is needed to support two Orangutans. For a viable healthy subpopulation of Orangutans (approximately 500 Orangutans), an average of 300 square miles of rainforest is needed.
Because of the deforestation, encroachment of humans, domestic animals (ie dogs), and palm oil plantations, well over half of the Orangutan population has been destroyed. Experts believe that it is quite possible that the Orangutan will be extinct in as little as ten years.
Fortunately there are several organizations that are trying to do something for the Orangutans. The Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is one of those organizations. They are located in Borneo and are doing what they can to save as many lives of Orangutans as possible. Animal Planet ran a special a few nights ago, showing the center and delving into the many problems faced by the Orangutans and their rescue workers. Most of the people working at the center are volunteers and are doing what they can for these poor desperate animals. Many of the Orangutans brought to the center are severely sick and/or injured. Quite frankly, it makes me very angry to see what fellow humans are doing to these poor defenseless animals.
The Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is in desperate need of funding. The money is needed for food, medicine and many other important supplies for the Orangutans. If we do not step up and help the Orangutan, who will? I am not a member or affiliated with the center in any way whatsoever, I am simply a guy that owns a website related to animals and found a cause that I believe is worth our time. Please visit www.savetheorangutan.org to see how you can help.
For more information and news about the animals we share our world with, visit www.crittert-shirts.com
Contact:
Heath Johnson, webmaster
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