A recently constructed road through a National Park in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo, has lead to a 95% reduction in the local orangutan population in less than 5 years.

As previously reported on this site, oil palm cultivation is widely cited as the primary cause of the habitat destruction that threatens the existence of orangutans and other Asian rainforest species such as tigers and elephants.

However, this case shows that development in general is causing deforestation and pushing orangutans and other species to the brink of extinction.

A 2004 survey in Kutai National Park found a healthy population of 600 orangutans. However a road was built through the middle of the park leading to widespread deforestation and human settlement with over 70,000 people now living within the park’s boundaries. A recent wildlife survey found just 30 orangutans left in the park.

Indonesian orangutan campaigner, Hardi Baktiantoro, said “we need the central government’s commitment to enforce the law on conservation areas. Orangutans are a primate typical to Indonesia only – surely we do not want it to become extinct in the next few years?”

WWF is campaigning to protect the rainforest home of the orangutan.

One of the best ways you can help them is by adopting an orangutan.