The Shortlist of the Alfred Fried Photography Award 2014
The last Orangutans
Orangutans, an entirely Asian species in the family of great apes, roam Indonesian rain forests on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. During the past decade, orangutan populations in the wild have decreased by approximately 50%. They are currently listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources). Human activities, especially the unchecked burning of rain forests to clear land for palm oil plantations, have resulted in a critical loss of habitat, driving orangutans to the brink of extinction in Indonesia.
Indonesia is market leader in global palm oil production. Palm oil is used for food, cosmetics and as biofuel. The last forests are destroyed to grow more oil palms. Palm oil plantations are replacing four-fifths of the rainforest in Indonesia. Orangutans are one of many victims of massive deforestation.
The aim of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) is to conservate the last Sumatran orangutans. Members of SOCP are supporting orangutan conservation, rainforest protection and reintroduction of orphans in order to save the species from extinction. Their vision is that all orangutans live in the wild in secure and in peacful coexistence with human beings.
Orangutans, an entirely Asian species in the family of great apes, roam Indonesian rain forests on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. During the past decade, orangutan populations in the wild have decreased by approximately 50%. They are currently listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources). Human activities, especially the unchecked burning of rain forests to clear land for palm oil plantations, have resulted in a critical loss of habitat, driving orangutans to the brink of extinction in Indonesia.
Indonesia is market leader in global palm oil production. Palm oil is used for food, cosmetics and as biofuel. The last forests are destroyed to grow more oil palms. Palm oil plantations are replacing four-fifths of the rainforest in Indonesia. Orangutans are one of many victims of massive deforestation.
The aim of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) is to conservate the last Sumatran orangutans. Members of SOCP are supporting orangutan conservation, rainforest protection and reintroduction of orphans in order to save the species from extinction. Their vision is that all orangutans live in the wild in secure and in peacful coexistence with human beings.
