Primates

Orangutan Welfare: Palm Oil, Deforestation, and Rescue

Orangutans are among our closest relatives, losing their forest homes to palm oil plantations and facing severe welfare crises.

Key Facts

Bornean orangutan populations declined by 50% between 1999 and 2015 from habitat loss
They are the most arboreal of all great apes, spending nearly all their time in trees
Palm oil deforestation burns and destroys orangutan habitat annually
Mother-infant bonds last 7-8 years, the longest of any non-human primate
An estimated 1,000-5,000 orangutans are killed annually from human-wildlife conflict

Welfare Considerations

Orangutans in deforested areas are found starving, injured, and separated from their young as food sources are destroyed. Mothers killed in conflict leave infants requiring 7-8 years of intensive care to survive independently. Rescued orangutans in rehabilitation centers often wait years before suitable forest for reintroduction is available. The welfare crisis is inseparable from the deforestation that causes it.

What You Can Do

Choose RSPO-certified palm oil products or palm-oil-free alternatives
Donate to Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation and Centre for Orangutan Protection
Advocate for your government to condition palm oil imports on certification
Support reforestation programs creating orangutan habitat
Avoid deforestation-linked brands using Rainforest Action Network consumer guides