Borneo’s Orangutan Population Plummets by Half in 16 Years
Borneo’s orangutan population has declined by nearly 50% in the past 16 years, according to a new study published in Current Biology. The study’s findings are based on field surveys conducted by an international team of conservationists.
Deforestation and Hunting Are Major Threats
The researchers found that deforestation and hunting are the primary drivers of the orangutan population decline. Between 1999 and 2015, the number of orangutans in areas affected by deforestation fell by up to 75%. In heavily forested areas, numbers fell by a rate closer to 50%.
Orangutan killing is also a major threat to the population. In Borneo, acts of violence against orangutans are becoming increasingly common. Hunters kill orangutans to use as food or because they perceive them as trespassing on their plantations or gardens.
Orangutan Killing May Wipe Out Population
The researchers estimate that the orangutan population in Borneo will lose another 45,300 individuals over the next 35 years, based on current predictions of forest cover change. However, this figure is likely an underestimate, as it does not factor in the effect of continued killings.
Maria Voigt of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, one of the study’s co-authors, warns that continued killings may “already be enough to wipe the population out in the long term.”
Hunting Can Be Reversed, But Habitat Loss Is Permanent
Serge Wich, another co-author of the study, says that the population decline “has been largely due to hunting.” However, he believes that if hunting can be stopped, the orangutan population could recover over time.
“When you lost the habitat, it’s gone forever, but the forests are still there,” Wich says. “If we can stop the hunting and killing, we can reverse the trend.”
Orangutans: A Critically Endangered Species
The Bornean orangutan is a critically endangered great ape. It’s the world’s most populous orangutan species, but its numbers are dwindling rapidly. The orangutan is known for its arboreal lifestyle, distinctive orange-red hair, and close genetic link to humans (about 97 percent shared DNA).
Orangutans play an important role in the rainforest ecosystem. They disperse seeds, which helps to regenerate the forest. They also create nesting platforms, which are used by other animals.
The Need for Conservation
The researchers urge for immediate action to protect orangutans and their habitat. They recommend increasing law enforcement to stop hunting and deforestation, and raising awareness about the importance of orangutans.
“Orangutans are an iconic species that are in danger of disappearing,” Wich says. “We need to act now to save them.”
Additional Information
- The study was published in Current Biology on Thursday, August 8, 2019.
- The research team included scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, the University of Göttingen, and the University of Oxford.
- The study was funded by the National Geographic Society and the Arcus Foundation.
