The
following is a guest post featuring the work of students
enrolled in my Anth 102 courses. These students are highlighting the
importance of primate conservation and featuring specific primates that
are currently endangered. I hope you find these pieces informative and
are inspired to make a positive change in the world that will help these
and other endangered primates.
Female orangutan & her baby. Copyright Anup Shah (Image Source: WWF Website) |
By: Sarah
Howard
Orangutans
are peaceful, intelligent, and beautiful primates. According to the IUCN Red
List of Threatened Species, some of the species, including the Orangutans in
Borneo (Pongo pygmaeus), are currently on the endangered list
(ICUN). Also on IUCN’s list are the Orangutans in Sumatra (Pongo abelii) who are currently listed as critically endangered. In
this essay, I will tell you some interesting facts about Orangutans and why
they are endangered. I will also describe ways to help prevent the Orangutans
extinction and why it is so important to do so with Orangutans, as well as all
primate species in general.
Orangutans are big, red, and hairy great apes. That
is not all there is to them, though.
National Geographic reports that Orangutans can be
found in Borneo and Sumatra, which are two islands in Indonesia. In Malay, the
language of the region, Orangutan means “person of the forest”(National Geographic).
This is very appropriate because the Orangutan lives in the tropical rainforest.
Orangutans are arboreal, meaning that they shelter and spend about 90% of their
time in trees (National Geographic). This lifestyle supports the Orangutan diet,
which consists of fruit, leaves, bark, and insects.
Female Orangutans begin to reproduce offspring around
the age of 15 years old (orangutan.org, biology). Typical gestational periods
last for eight and a half months, very similar to that of the Homo sapiens, which is about ten months
(40 weeks). Unlike humans, infant
Orangutans only stay with their mothers until around the age of six or seven (National
Geographic).
Orangutans are solitary animals (orangutan.org). The
male Orangutans are more solitary than the females. Orangutans are also very
cognitive. They have been known to make tools. These tools include using
branches to scratch themselves, using leaves as shelter, and even using leaves
as gloves to better handle spiny fruits.
There are many reasons why the Orangutan species is
endangered. Some of the reasons spawn from human development. Illegal logging
is one of the dangers to Orangutans (orangutan.org). This leads to the
destruction of the Orangutans’ home in the tropical rainforest. Illegal logging
in this area is driven by the demand for palm oil and timber (orangutan.org). In
addition to the destruction due to logging, there is also additional damage
that stems from mining and urban development.
This includes clearings for settlements and roads. Sadly, the habitat is
not the only area of destruction that impacts Orangutans. Orangutans themselves
are the victims of violence as they are often targeted in illegal animal trade
or are hunted and eaten (orangutan.org). According to the World Wildlife
Foundation (World Wildlife Foundation), there are only about 41,000 of the
Bornean Orangutans left with only about 7,500 Sumatran Orangutans still in
existence.
There are many ways that Orangutans can be saved
from extinction. Several organizations are dedicated to helping the Orangutans,
including World Wildlife Foundation, Greenpeace, Orang Utan Republik
Foundation, and many more. These organizations support saving Orangutans from
becoming extinct by doing several things, including working toward preventing
illegal animal trade, educating locals about Orangutans, helping to make laws
protecting the species, and helping rehabilitate orphaned Orangutans. In addition, anyone can help support the
cause by engaging in a few simple acts, including using social media to spread
awareness, purchasing products that are certified sustainable, and by buying
FSC-certified forest products (wwf.panda.org). These small acts will help
Orangutans and are easy to do.
We need to help save the Orangutans from becoming
extinct. Greenpeace.org says that Orangutans are important to the rainforests
of Sumatra and Borneo because Orangutans disperse seeds throughout the
rainforest (greenpeace.org). They play a significant role in the keeping of the
rainforest’s plants alive, as well as having an effect on the health of other
species. Orangutans are also important for studying human behavior because of
how intelligent and cognitive they are (orangutanrepublik.org). Orangutans have
also been known to be able to learn sign language (orangutanrepublik.org). This
is an excellent way to study how humans may have learned to communicate with each
other.
Just like Orangutans, all primates need to be kept
from extinction. Primates are our cousins and share a common ancestor with us.
For this reason, they are great for studying how we may have evolved. They all
play important roles in ecosystems, as well. If humans
keep wiping out primate species, then we will lose more links to our past. We
need to help our primates by making people aware and by helping in any other
ways that we can. We can share the knowledge of ways to donate and ways to improve
our environment, so that primates can have their habitats back, undisturbed. I
know that if we as humans put our minds to it, we can get some of these
primates off of the endangered list.
Works Cited:
Ancrenaz,
M., Marshall, A., Goossens, B., van Schaik, C., Sugardjito, J., Gumal, M. &
Wich, S. 2008. Pongo pygmaeus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Version 2014.3. Web. 5 March 2015 <www.iucnredlist.org>
Singleton,
I., Wich, S.A. & Griffiths, M. 2008. Pongo abelii. The IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. Web. 5 March 2015. <www.iucnredlist.org>
“Orangutan
Pongo pygmaeus.” National Geographic.
n.p. n.d. Web. 5 March 2015. <www.animals.nationalgeographic.com>
“Orangutan
Biology.” Orangutan Foundation International. n.p. n.d. Web. 5 March 2015.
<www.orangutan.org>
“Orangutan
Behavior.” Orangutan Foundation
International. n.p. n.d. Web. 5 March 2015. <www.orangutan.org>
“Orangutan
Conservation.”Orangutan Foundation
International. n.p. n.d. Web. 5 March 2015. <www.orangutan.org>
“Orangutan
Overview.” World Wildlife Foundation n.p.
n.d. Web. 5 March 2015. <www.worldwildlife.org>
“Orangutans
Under Threat.”. Greenpeace USA. n.p.
27 April 2005. Web. 5 March 2015 <www.greepeace.org>
“Why
Save Orangutans?.” Orang Utan Republik. n.p. n.d. Web. 5 March 2015 < www.oragutanrepublik.org >
“Language
and Sign Learning.” Urang Utan Republik. n.p. n.d. Web. 5 March 2015
< www.orangutanrepublik.org >
By: Thomas Celestre
By: Thomas Celestre
Many
of the world’s primates are in danger of extinction. According to the website www.seethewild.org “Almost half of all primate
species around the globe are threatened with extinction as a result of human
activity.” One of the most endangered of these primate species is the Sumatran orangutan.
Nationalgeographic.com lists the Sumatran orangutan as the number one most
endangered primate species, and also estimates they are down to only 7,000
orangutans left in the wild on the island of Sumatra. While this species is
critically endangered due to human activity, there are others fighting to
conserve and protect these unique primates before they are wiped off our planet
completely.
Orangutans
are found in the wild in Southeast Asia, in areas such as Indonesia and
Malaysia. According the website www.orangutan.com, of the 4 types
of great apes the orangutan is the only one that is indigenous to the continent
of Asia, the other three types, the bonobo, chimpanzee, and gorilla, all being
indigenous to Africa. Orangutans are more arboreal than most apes. They are
very good at living high up in trees and do not need to come to the ground very
often. They can sustain all of their basic needs in the trees. Orangutans get
food that grows off tree branches, and with the constant rains in the
rainforest they can drink water from the leaves. They will also build
themselves a nest out of leaves and branches so they can sleep above ground, as
well. Orangutans have feet that are more similar to human hands with toes that
can reach and grab things like fingers, which makes it easier for them to climb
and swing between branches and trees (orangutan.com). Another valuable
characteristic for orangutans to spend so much time in trees is their arm
length. An orangutan male can have an arm length up to 7 feet long, when his
body will only stand about 5 feet tall (nationalgeographic.com).
Orangutans
are mostly solitary creatures, except for when mating and raising young, but
according to orangutans.com they have the longest childhood dependence on the
mother than any other animal in the world. Orangutan babies will nurse until
they are about six years old. When an orangutan baby is past its nursing stage,
a young male may stay near the mother for a couple more years, but females have
been known to stay with their mother into their teenage years and learn
mothering skills while watching their mother take care of their younger
sibling. Orangutan females can only have a baby about once every eight years,
and some orangutans can live up to 40 years in the wild (orangutan.com).
According
to orangutan.com, orangutans in the wild have lost up to 80% of their habitat
in the last 20 years, and their experts predict that the species could be
extinct in less than 25 years from now. The main factors the website lists
contributing to their endangerment is deforestation logging, development of
palm oil plantations, as well as illegal poaching and pet trading. In
Indonesia, the population of people has grown dramatically in the past years,
and with the expansion of people they are destroying more and more habitat that
the orangutans live in. With their environments so close together, orangutans
are often killed by people that are hungry, or just see them as pests on their
property. The development of palm oil plantations may be the biggest factor. Palm
oil is used in almost 50% of consumer products, and with large profit to be
made, palm oil plantations are being developed deeper and deeper into the
rainforests and destroying habitat and climate for the orangutans. With all of
these contributing factors, the orangutan populations in the wild are declining
quickly (orangutan.com).
There
are many organizations dedicated to stopping the extinction of this species. Orangutan.com
has information ranging from the causes of orangutan extinction to ways to
contribute to stopping it. The site lists items that you can avoid buying that
use palm oil in an effort to slow down the demand for the product. The site
also lists other options to help, such as making donations, virtual adoption,
and volunteering in conservation projects. The Orangutan Conservancy (OC) has a
list on orangutan.com of five conservation projects set for 2015, that include
all the options on volunteering and donating. There are other conservation
organizations, such as the Orangutan Outreach and the Sumatran Orangutan
Conservation Programme (SOCP), that fight for the same cause (redapes.org).
There
are many reasons to save the orangutan from extinction. According to the
website http://engage.aza.org even though
humans are closer in DNA relation to chimpanzees, humans and orangutans share
more common characteristics, such as similar teeth. The site goes on to mention
that studies have shown differences in culture of orangutans in different
areas, that they show learned traits, and says we can learn about development
of human culture through this species. The site also mentions that Orangutans
with their wide area of habitat, spread seeds throughout the rainforest that
help other plants and animals thrive, and lists orangutans as a key element to
saving the rainforest (engage.aza.org). It is for some of these same reasons it
is important to protect all primates from extinction. There are many things we
can learn about every primate species. The extinction of one species can have
major effects on an environment, and can have a chain effect on other animals
that may depend on that animal as a food source or for something else
(engage.aza.org).
The
orangutan is a very unique primate. Its physical appearance, nature, and
environment make it different from other apes, and the most arboreal ape on
earth. But it is also the most endangered on earth. Poaching and deforestation
are major factors in the dwindling numbers of its population. The site
engage.aza.org refers to the orangutan as an “umbrella species” meaning they
are critical to other animals in the rainforests survival. With conservation
programs designed to help fight the extinction of this animal, hopefully enough
can be done before the most unique of the great apes is gone for good.
Works Cited
By:
Jacqueline Hernandez
Over the past decade there has been
a decrease in many primate populations. This is not surprising news to us
because endangered species have been an issue for a long time. Some researchers
are led to believe the human race has been large cause of declining population
in many primates, while others believe disease and fatalities could be the
problem. In 2010 National Geographic posted an article on endangered primates,
and Tarsiers made it on their top 25 list (National Geographic). Tarsiers are
small, fragile, and overall very interesting primates to research. This essay
will cover their natural habitats, the reason behind their endangerment, and
how and why it is so important to keep these fascinating creatures on our
planet.
At some point Tarsiers were known to
be found in a variety of places across the globe, but now they live in the
tropical islands and coast of Southeast Asia. The three common locations for
Tarsiers are the Philippines, Western Sumatra, and Sulawesi (Endangered Species
International). They are known as
arboreal primates, meaning they live within the trees of the forests. Tarsiers share similar characteristics, such
as hairy bodies, long skinny tails, point bat-like ears, long fingers, and
large wide eyes. With eyes as large as their brain and a head that can turn
almost 360° Tarsiers can see just about anything in the dark. Their hands and
feet have sticky fingers that are used for climbing and catching prey for meal
times; their fingers are vital to their survival (Endangered Species International). The social behavior of Tarsiers depends on
the location it is living in; Western Tarsiers are less social and Eastern
Tarsiers are known as the most social. Tarsiers are very territorial when it
comes to their land, food, and sometimes even their mate. They patrol the area
around their beds to keep others away, but in some cases they allow up to two
mates in their home. Social interactions have also been known to increase or
decrease depending on their food supply (Endangered Species International). Tarsiers
communicate to defend their territory and as mating calls. A newborn will have
furry bodies, wide open eyes, and can begin to climb on trees within an hour of
their birth; they also use communication when they are in need of help from
their mothers. Tarsiers climb through trees to catch their food, which is known
to be insects, snakes, birds, and other small organisms found living within the
trees (Endangered Species International).
The amount of endangered Tarsiers
varies on the location of where they live. Some are more prone to living a
non-healthy cruel life than others. Humans have played a critical role
resulting in the endangerment of these primates. Hunters have caught and caged
Tarsiers to sell in black markets. Tourists have unknowingly caused a great
harm to them by holding and petting them; even the flash of picture can hurt their
fragile eyes. Tarsiers can easily grow anxious and nervous when they are being
handled poorly; in some incidents they bang their heads on some hard and kill
themselves (National Geographic). For many Tarsiers living in certain parts of
Asia their food and beds are being destroyed along with the rest of their
habitats in the forest for agriculture. The agriculture
that replaces their habitat is also causing great harm because of the
pesticides that are being used for farming. Tarsiers that live closest to
agricultures are found with body sores, underweight, and sicknesses (Endangered
Species International).
The Philippine government has passed
laws to keep people from capturing and selling Tarsiers and to stop their
habitat destruction. These laws are not being respected by many citizens and
the government should do more to enforce them (Endangered Species International). A number of volunteers are doing their part
in saving these primates by planting more native trees. People can help save
Tarsiers by helping to support organizations that are trying to keep their
habitat intact, and by simply educating others on this issue through school
projects or social media. Tourists can help save these creatures by not buying
them as pets and not taking them out of their habitats to take pictures and
hold them. Saving Tarsiers is very important because they deserve to live long
happy lives without having to be bothered or killed off by humans. They are
nature’s creatures that play a vital role in our ecosystem just like any other
living organism and since they have been known to be living on this earth for
around 45 million years we should learn to respect our elders (Capitanio).
Saving primates could mean saving
human lives because of how we study them. Primates have similarities to humans
and can help with curing many diseases and help create a better understanding
of overall human health. Primates have also helped us learn about our history
and we evolved. Although the importance of studying all kinds or primates has
been proven to be a positive subject, there is no doubt that we could be
harming these organisms while they are in captivity (Capitanio). Many scientists
wish to further study Tarsiers in their natural habitats to learn more on how
we can help save them, but scientists are trying to be very careful in how they
go about this. Tarsiers are very susceptible primates and can cause a great
deal of harm to their bodies when they are put under too much stress (Endangered
Species International). Nature is beautiful in its many aspects and it is our
natural instinct to feel the need to explore and investigate but we must
remember that nature is also very delicate and some things are better left
untouched and unharmed.
Work Cited
"25
Most Endangered Primates Named." National Geographic. National Geographic
Society, 28 Oct. 2010. Web. 15 Mar. 2015.
"Tarsier."
Endangered Species International. Endangered Species International, Web. 15
Mar. 2015.
Capitanio,
John P., PHD. "ASP - 1) Why Are
Nonhuman Primates Studied, and What Kinds of Research Are Conducted?"
American Society of Primatologists, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2015.
10 comments:
I didn't realize that primates were in such danger. It really makes me sad and I hope we can do something about it. This is a difficult problem with no easy solution. The laws protecting Tarsiers is not being respected by many and is very sad to hear. Perhaps the only solution is direct protection and watching of the primates in danger.
It is shocking to know that only 7,000 orangutans now exist and 80% of their habitat has been destroyed by human development in the past 20 years! It's interesting to know that orangutans spread seeds throughout the rain forest, I did not know that. Human development is no doubt the primary source of these primates going extinct and to know that I can do so little to help, is quite sad. I hope the best for our distant ancestors.
Thank you for the post!
Zachary Forrester
anthro 101 3001 summer
This post was very educational in the sense I had no idea this was going on. It is so sad to see such reckless and crual behavior still happening. Hopefully through educational pieces such as this cultures and governments around the world will see how crucial this species are to their environment as well as the importance in preserving the link we share to our ancestors.
Nicole Grimes
Anthro 101
I was actually very aware of these facts. I'm saddened (though I understand why this wouldn't be appropriate) that True Facts About The Tarsier wasn't used. My friends and I actually talk about ways to help with what humans are doing to the environments of these animals. Hopefully, with the more people are made aware, the more action will be taken.
Cool to see an assignment put a spotlight on the danger orangutans are in due to damage caused by humans. Hopefully things are changed before other species reach this point as well.
Jordan R
I loved this post do to the fact that I like primates and well an animal really but it is sad to know that they are always in harms way because it be the cause of nature or the cause of us humans that are ruining there habitats I did know a little about many different species in danger to become extinct and have heard of the different organizations out there to help those animals but I really didn't know that there were so many for our fellow primates it's good to know that people do care about then even though we sometimes tend to label the dangerous.
-Erick Anguiano
This post really opens your eyes up to things going on instead of the less important stuff usually talked about through social media and other sources. This kind of thing is usually not taken very serious, when it needs to be as they will become extinct. Then they will be gone forever and we need to try and do something to prevent that the best we can. It is bad that people disobey the law and go after the Tarsiers anyway not caring about the possibility of extinction. These people are just blinded by greed and need to be shown that this is very serious and not something to mess around with.
It is very sad these animals surfer because of humans and human development. I did not know that Orangutan means " person of the forest". I also found it interesting for the forest lives off of the Orangutans to spread seeds which allows the forest to survive. This was a very interesting post. Hopefully people become more aware of endangered animals and can try and help out more. I know I want to be informed about endangered animals myself. I really enjoyed this.
Leslie Milton
Anthropology 101
Course 3001
It's so sad that primates are mostly endangered because of us, if only we could explain and stop what the human are doing and make them understand, everything would probably be better and they won't be that much in danger.
Aaliyah Caldwell
Jovie Black
I like Orangutans, But the human population are killing these animals. We basically are killing these animals for our needs, we make these animals pets not giving them the proper care they need. I wouldn't mind having an ape as a pet though. They aren't messing with us, why we keep messing with them. Observing them should be the best way for information.
Post a Comment