Orangutans face lethal persecution in palm oil plantations where they are seen as agricultural pests, causing both population decline and individual suffering.
Orangutans killed in plantation conflicts are shot, beaten, or poisoned, often surviving with severe injuries before dying. Orphaned infants experience acute trauma from witnessing maternal death, then weeks in unsuitable conditions before reaching rescue centers. Rescued orangutans require years of rehabilitation before any possibility of release. The chronic stress of habitat fragmentation means surviving wild orangutans navigate increasingly hostile landscapes with limited food and safety. This welfare crisis is directly caused by global demand for palm oil in food and cosmetics.