THE ORANGUTAN

The lowland forest habitats of Asia's only great ape are quickly disappearing. The
trees are being cut down for timber or burned to make way for palm oil plantations
and other agricultural development. Orangutans are under threat in their natural
habitat like never before. Orangutans are an easy target for hunters. They
occasionally hunt and eat orangutans or in revenge attacks when they move into
agricultural areas and destroy crops. Females in particular are most often hunted.
When caught with offspring, the young are often kept as pets by ignorant owners
with no idea of their needs.
In Borneo, a baby orangutan has been found in chicken coop. The owners only
fed him with condensed milk for over 10 months. It caused his bone to become
malformed, swelling and bending his limb. It is lacking of nutrient that are vital for
young development. At more than a year old, he should have been able to swing
and climb but by this time he was in a pitiful state. After he was taken to rescue
centre, he started to make a slow recovery.
Lastly, orangutans are found exclusively in South East Asia and are a critically
endangered species. So, we must help and protect orangutans and conserve the
rainforest they inhabit.