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Deforestation threatens Indonesian orangutans

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-18 13:48

JAKARTA -- The Indonesian Sumatran orangutans or Pongoes are increasingly under threat if deforestation in Sumatra of Indonesia continues, the Jakarta Globe on Tuesday quoted an activist as saying.

"Based on our latest data, the population of Sumatran orangutans stands at 6,624," said Redo, secretary of the Coalition Concerned Groups for the Orangutan.

The coalition will hold a series of events this week in Medan, North Sumatra province, to raise awareness of the plight of the animal species which has been considered to be in danger of extinction.

Redo also asked Indonesian Forestry Minister MS Kaban to take decisive action against illegal hunting and poaching, which he said should be reduced under Indonesia's conservation laws.

Orangutans are large and gentle apes that spend much of their time on trees. In Indonesia, they are found in Sumatra and Kalimantan. They are solitary creatures that tend to roam across large areas - up to 850 hectares for an adult female and 2,500 hectares for an adult male.