The biggest threat to the survival of the great apes is the fifth great ape: man.
The fifth great ape, the one that lives consciously, makes choices and understands consequence, the one with all the power in the world, the one that can create whatever it needs, is the one that kills fellow great apes for bushmeat; rips great ape families apart and kills for the pet trade; flattens their habitat, destroying their homes and food sources for timber and palm oil plantations and yet more buildings ... survival of the fittest?
NO.
Mankind is slowly but surely, directly and indirectly, driving many species to extinction; slowly but surely destroying the planet, and ultimately we will destroy ourselves.
Orangutans are now only found in 2 areas on earth: the rainforests of the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. In Borneo there are only approximately 40,000 orangutans left, while in Sumatra the count is approximately 7,000. Orangutans have lost about 80% of their natural habitat.
It is estimated that it will be all over for the orangutan as early as 2012, with the remainder of their rainforests destroyed by 2022.
Say no
to deforestation;
to unsustainable palm oil;
to unsustainable biofuel;
to unsustainable timber;
to the ape pet trade;
to the bush meat trade;
to apes in entertainment.
We are killing them, and they cannot fight back.
SAY NO!
Please sign the petition to help say no. The petition data can then be used to address the above issues.
Please forward it to friends, family and colleagues.
Thank you for your support. Thank you for caring. Thank you for helping to save a life.
For more information, please visit primateprotection.org.uk
Dear Minister of Environmental Affairs
We, the undersigned respectfully request that an urgent review be done towards the protection of the orangutan population in your country.
As you are aware, the orangutan is indiginous to Borneo and Sumatra, and we are desperately close to loosing the last of the population.
Please help increase the protection of the orangutan by reviewing legislation relating to deforestation, palm oil production, biofuel production, timber, the ape pet trade, the bush meat trade and to apes used in entertainment.
Only when we give these primates the respect that they deserve by protecting AND ENFORCING their right to existence under law, can we make a difference.
Many organisations are doing their best with the funds available to undo what mankind is doing to these apes.
Government has a critical role in protecting the orangutan. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
