Orangutan

 Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1

Professor Foster 

ENG 111 2WF 

6 April 2023

Orangutan 

           Orangutans are classified as the largest arboreal animal, weighing up to 200 pounds per monkey. They spend most of their time up in the dense forest trees of southeast Asia and play a vital role in seed dispersal. Without the orangutan, there would be a lack of plant diversity throughout Asia. With such an important role in the ecosystem, why are orangutans considered critically endangered?  

            Unfortunately, the exotic pet trade and excessive hunting are the primary reasons. The hunters in Asia consider the orangutan an easy target due to their size and slow movement. Some hunters use them as a food source, whereas others kill the orangutans that eat their crops. Due to the deforestation of their natural habitat, orangutans will often migrate to find food in people's yards. The exotic pet trade is not better, often stealing young orangutans from their mothers to sell. Restrictions were established in Taiwan; but it remains a problem in Indonesia. This is a prime example of how we can help get orangutans off the endangered species list. With support for more government regulations and demand for protected areas for native wildlife.  

An Orangutan with their young

Weems 2 

Work Cited 

(Image) Lai, Olivia. “11 Fun Facts Facts about Orangutans.” Earth.Org, Earth.Org, 22 Feb. 2023, https://earth.org/facts-about-orangutans/.