Indonesian Conservation Media Center

Orangutans at threat

Natural forests of Borneo, like many other tropical forest areas continue to lose its high speed. Forests are felled or converted for the production of rubber, pulp and palm oil plantations. Illegal logging, land clearing, and forest conversion is an activity that most threatens the existence of forests in Kalimantan. Between 1950 and 2000, total forest area in Indonesia decreased from 162 million hectares to 98 million hectares. Since 1996, deforestation has increased to 2 million hectares per year. Even the area of legally protected forest in Kalimantan have been felled illegally. Thus, the habitat of orangutans has decreased very high, so that these endangered animals. If such activities did not immediately respond firmly and the appropriate management, it is possible the next few years we have been unable to find again in the natural habitat of orangutan.

One of the efforts to save the orangutan population from extinction is by the establishment of orangutan rehabilitation centers. These places aim to prepare to be returned to the woods, so contact with humans should be minimized. Nevertheless, there are still many places that combine the rehabilitation of rehabilitation with ecotourism, especially in the release. Ecotourism has been expected to give a positive impact on conservation activities, but activities are not necessarily able to give positive impact to the wildlife itself.

Currently there are still many places including the zoo orangutan protection less attention needs or interests of the orangutan. This can be seen by the tourist attractions that focus on such orangutan orangutan arms and fed to the orangutan.

Indirectly it can eliminate the natural behavior of the orangutan and cause stress on these animals. Supposed to be places where wildlife conservation can provide information about wildlife and to encourage visitors to better care for these animals. Orangutans as endangered wildlife must be protected. The parties concerned and the parties should continue to monitor the conservation of what is happening on the conservation of orangutans in the area and restrict tourist activities taking place therein.