Building relationships: how zoos and other partners can contribute to the conservation of wild orangutans

Abstract

With both species of orangutan now listed as critically endangered, orangutan conservation needs some critical rethinking. Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, and hunting are continuing to push their populations towards further decline. Conservation efforts focusing on rehabilitation and habitat protection are in place but are insufficient unless we move towards a landscape approach that will aim at protecting and connecting areas rather than isolated patches of forest. Conservationists need to engage with communities and industry to really protect the species at a landscape level. This paper explores the current efforts in orangutan conservation on the ground and from the zoo community and new areas emerging to contribute to these new approaches needed to positively impact orangutan populations on the ground