Orangutans are facing a mammoth problem, one that threatens not only their survival but the health of our planet. For this reason, WE face a mammoth problem and our fates are intertwined. With illegal logging, habitat loss, and climate change pushing them toward extinction, we are at a critical turning point. Without action, orangutans could follow in the footsteps of the woolly mammoth, disappearing forever.
The Scale Of The Mammoth Problem
Over the past 75 years, over 80% of orangutan populations have been lost due to human activity. Their lush rainforest homes are being destroyed for agriculture, strip-mining, and unsustainable palm oil production. As habitats shrink, orangutans are pushed into human settlements, where they face conflict, poaching, and the illegal pet trade. Without intervention, this decline will continue at an alarming rate, leading to the irreversible loss of a species vital to the ecosystem. Indonesia is the largest stronghold of orangutans left in the wild. They are all but gone from their original native range that spanned across Southeast Asia. The Indonesian government works hard and has protected the species, but we are still losing them. Together, we work with the government to secure the long-term future of this incredible animal, but we need help!
The mammoth problem isn’t just about orangutans. If we lose them, we lose more than an iconic species – we lose a part of ourselves too. Orangutans are known as “gardeners of the forest,” playing a crucial role in seed dispersal, which helps maintain the biodiversity of their habitat. If they disappear, the rainforests they call home could collapse, leading to devastating consequences for global climate stability.
The Impact Of Their Loss On Us All
Rainforests are often called the “lungs of the planet” because they absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide and produce the oxygen we breathe. Borneo’s rainforests, home to the critically endangered Bornean orangutan, store immense amounts of carbon, helping to regulate climate and slow the effects of global warming.
If these forests disappear, not only will orangutans be lost, but we will see a dramatic increase in carbon emissions, further fueling climate change. The destruction of these vital ecosystems affects weather patterns, agricultural productivity, and air quality worldwide. Saving orangutans isn’t just about wildlife conservation – it’s about ensuring a stable future for all life on Earth.
How The Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation Is Leading the Solution This Mammoth Problem
The BOS Foundation is the leading global orangutan conservation organisation tackling this crisis from multiple angles. The task is immense and our approach is twofold: building back orangutan populations, and restoring and protecting their original habitats.
- Rescue & Rehabilitation – BOSF rescues orangutans from danger, whether from habitat destruction, the pet trade, or human-wildlife conflict. Expert teams provide life-saving medical care, nourishment, and many years of survival training to prepare them for a life back in the wild.
- Releasing Orangutans Back to the Wild – Once rehabilitated and educated, orangutans are reintroduced and monitored for at least 2 years in protected rainforests where they can thrive and contribute to the ecosystem.
- Rainforest Conservation & Restoration – BOSF actively protects and restores vital orangutan habitats, ensuring these forests remain standing for generations to come or are restored to viable orangutan habitat once more. This requires working closely with local Dayak communities to promote sustainable land management and conservation practices.
- Education & Advocacy – Raising awareness about our mammoth problem is key to solving it. We work to inform and inspire global action to protect orangutans and their forests.
Be Part of the Mammoth Solution
The fight to save orangutans is a fight for our planet’s future. Whether through financial support, spreading awareness, or making sustainable choices in your daily life, everyone has a role to play in solving our mammoth problem, together!
By working together, we can ensure that orangutans don’t become the next mammoths of extinction. Join us in protecting these incredible creatures and the ecosystems they call home. The time to act is NOW.
Text by: BOS-UK
Will you help us rescue, rehabilitate, and release orangutans back to freedom? Thank you!
