Why is the Orangutan in danger?
The main reason Orangutans are in danger of extinction is because of destruction of tropical rainforests. Because of legal and illegal logging, fires, and the ‘Slash and Burn’ method to plant large scale palm oil plantations, the population of orang-utans has decreased by 80% over the last 75 years, according to ICUN Red List. There is estimated to be around 41,000 Bornean Orangutans and around 7,500 Sumatran Orangutans left in the wild, and about 350 of both species in captivity.
Illegal Pet Trade
Illegal trade of Orangutans is another big threat to the population. Many Orangutans are sold in black markets for pets. According to Borneo Orangutan Survival Australia, over 1,000 orang-utans are being smuggled into Java each year. Over the last 10 years, nearly 20,000 orang-utans have been killed or captured for the illegal pet trade.