Five years to save the orangutan

[Nutmegger]

http://environment.guardian.co.uk/conservation/story/0,,2042325,00.html

The Orang Utan, one of man's closest and most enigmatic cousins, could be virtually extinct within five years after it was discovered that the animal's rainforest habitat is being destroyed even more rapidly than had been predicted.

A United Nations report has found that illegal logging and fires have been overtaken as the primary cause of deforestation by a huge expansion of oil palm plantations, which are racing to meet soaring demand from Western food manufacturers and the European Union's zeal for biofuels.

Palm oil is seen by critics as a cautionary tale about good intentions. As a vegetable oil it can enhance a healthy diet, and as a biofuel it can reduce carbon emissions which contribute to climate change. Yet it transpires that humans' pursuit of an ethical lifestyle could inadvertently mean a death sentence for one of the great apes.

The paradox was brought to world attention by Friends of the Earth, whose ongoing campaign for producers, manufacturers and retailers to commit to sustainable palm oil was recognised at last week's Observer Food Monthly awards with the honour for best ethical contribution to the industry.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

1. I'm afraid they're going to have to rely on reintroduction programs...

How will they declare a moratorium on habitat destruction?

This is so very sad... :cry:

[AZBlue]

2. I just found an excellent book on possibly extinct animals: "Going, Going, Gone?"

Easy to read and informative, it lists animals on the brink of extinction and what you can do about it - from simple to more time-involved actions.

From now on I'm avoiding Palm Oil - and I'm going to look into some groups focusing on the orangutan! Thanks for the post.

[EFerrari]

3. K&R

These beautiful gentle animals.

[ConsAreLiars]

5. What we do to them, we do to us.

The way things are going, the best outcome is that we kill us before them.

[OneBlueSky]

4. truth be told, most people don't give a shit . . . n/t

.

[tex-wyo-dem]

6. I don't think it's that "most people don't give a shit,"...

but that news like this is rarely discussed or even mentioned in the MSM. I remember years ago when environmentally related news like this would be routinely covered by the big news corporations and resulted in raised awareness and action. Now, apparently, who is Anna Nicole's baby daddy is a much more important question than how we can save an entire species of great ape from leaving this planet forever.

[progressoid]

7. Wrong - there will always be a few dozen in cages at the zoo.

That's good enough right?


:sarcasm:

[Nutmegger]

8. KICK...

for more views. Thanks for the R&K's.

:cry: