Orangutan Palm Oil Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

The welfare and conservation impact of palm oil production on wild orangutan populations.

Key Facts

Palm oil production is the leading driver of deforestation in Sumatra and Borneo
All three orangutan species are critically endangered, with habitat loss as the primary threat
Orangutans displaced by deforestation face starvation, conflict with humans, and illegal capture
Sustainable palm oil certification through RSPO aims to reduce deforestation but faces enforcement challenges
Orphaned orangutan rehabilitation is welfare-intensive and only partially addresses the scale of the problem
Palm oil is present in an estimated 50% of packaged consumer products

Welfare Considerations

The welfare crisis facing wild orangutans from palm oil-driven deforestation is profound. Displaced orangutans face a survival crisis: injured by machinery during land clearing, shot by plantation workers, or captured for the illegal pet trade. Those who survive displacement often starve in fragmented forest patches insufficient to support their dietary needs. Rehabilitation centres provide welfare care for orphaned and injured individuals, but the scale of the problem requires systemic responses at the supply chain level. Consumer and corporate palm oil choices have direct welfare consequences for individual wild orangutans.

What You Can Do

Support certified sustainable palm oil where palm oil cannot be avoided in purchasing choices
Advocate for stronger RSPO enforcement and no-deforestation commitments from consumer goods companies
Support orangutan rehabilitation organizations working with displaced and orphaned individuals
Engage with supermarkets and food manufacturers about their palm oil sourcing commitments
Support land protection initiatives that secure orangutan forest habitat before it is converted