The rainforests that serve as home to the orangutan have the ideal climate and soil to support palm plantations which produce palm oil. Since palm oil is found in 50% of the products in your local supermarket, it should come as no surprise that the forest is being cleared to make way for these plantations. There is a sustainable way to make palm oil which does not harm the habitat of the orangutan. By adopting an orangutan through WWF you will be aiding its efforts in promoting the use of sustainable palm oil to both manufacturers and consumers.

As with all endangered species, habitat destruction represents the single greatest threat to the survival of the orangutan. They live in Indonesia which is rich in natural resources so their habitat is being destroyed to exploit precious metals or oil. Unless organisations like WWF step in and do something, the fate of the orangutan is all but sealed. By adopting an orangutan through WWF, you will be providing the funds needed so that the WWF can create and extend protected areas of rainforest and ensure the species survival.

Despite falling numbers of orangutans, local people living in the rainforests of Indonesia continue to hunt the species as they seek to make a living from agriculture. As many as 3000 orangutans are killed every year despite the fact that this hunting is completely unnecessary. By adopting an orangutan through WWF, you will be helping to fund education efforts that will allow local communities to better manage their relationship with protected areas and with this endangered species.

Somethings just shouldn’t be allowed to happen. If you visit the street markets of Jakarta, you will eventually come across a caged baby orangutan that is for sale. This is cruel and completely unconscionable and the practice needs to be stopped. Organisations like WWF are in a position to do something about this and you can help their efforts by adopting an orangutan.