Table of Contents
Is it illegal to kill orangutans?
International trade in orangutans is forbidden under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and orangutans are protected in Indonesia, where it is illegal to kill, capture, transport or even injure one of the rare apes. And yet, the killings continue.
Is it illegal to eat orangutan?
The introduction of both Christianity and Islam to the region has seen a modification in the beliefs and practices of many of the indigenous people, and today, most Muslim communities generally refrain from eating orangutan meat.
How many orangutans are killed a day?
8 orangutans
There are currently about 50,000 to 65,000 orangutans left in the wild, and it’s estimated that about 2,000 to 3,000 orangutans are killed every year. This corresponds to 5 to 8 orangutans being killed every day, and at this rate orangutans are very likely to become completely extinct within 50 years.
What are orangutans poached for?
Easier access and encroachment of people into the orangutan forests also leads to increased hunting of orangutans for meat, babies, skulls or, more recently for orangutan penises. As well as being consumed as bushmeat, body parts find their way into medicinal products or become tourist souvenirs.
Are orangutans almost extinct?
Not extinct
Orangutans/Extinction status
Can you have an orangutan as a pet?
Keeping an orangutan as a pet has been illegal since 1931 under Indonesian and international law. People keeping orangutans as pets generally do not feed them the right kinds of food, and because of this many orangutans we rescue are severely malnourished. This can lead to serious health problems.
Are orangutans being hunted?
Hunting and Illegal Wildlife Trade. Orangutans are an easy target for hunters because they’re large and slow targets. They are killed for food or in retaliation when they move into agricultural areas and destroy crops. This usually occurs when orangutans can’t find the food they need in the forest.
How much is an orangutan worth?
In the domestic black market, an orangutan can fetch Rupiah 5 Million (US$ 500), a Sumatran tiger Rp 20 Million (US$2000) and a Javan Owa (gibbon) Rp 3 Million (US$300). The price is much higher in international black market, where a juvenile orangutan can fetch US$45,000.
What would happen if orangutans went extinct?
If orangutans were to disappear, so would several tree species, especially those with larger seeds. The tropical rainforests where Sumatran orangutans live are also home to other spectacular species including rare Sumatran tigers, Sumatran elephants, and Sumatran rhinoceroses.
How can we stop orangutans from becoming extinct?
Here’s what you can do to help:
- Support organizations such as Health In Harmony that are working to protect orangutans and their habitats.
- Buy FSC-certified products.
- Avoid products made with unsustainable palm oil.
- Make small changes in your day to conserve natural resources.
- Talk to others.
How intelligent is an orangutan?
Orangutans are among the most intelligent primates. They use a variety of sophisticated tools and construct elaborate sleeping nests each night from branches and foliage. The apes’ learning abilities have been studied extensively. There may be distinctive cultures within populations.
What is being done to stop the extinction of orangutans?
The project objectives are as follows: (1) reducing hunting, illegal logging, encroachment, and other threats in key-habitat in Gunung Leuser National Park; and (2) halting the Sumatran orangutan trade, trafficking, and possession.