Dying for your pleasure - the extinction of Orang-Utans

The Orangutan

In Malay Orang-Utan means “person of the forest”. This is derived from the words ‘orang’ meaning people and ‘hutan’ meaning forest. Interestingly, the Dyaks a Malay Indigenous population consider Orang-Utans to be equal to humans and treat them as such, affording them the same respect as they would a neighboring tribe.

A prominent researcher, Birute Galdikas, who has been studying Orang-Utans for many years states, “Orang-Utans are tough. They’re flexible. They’re intelligent. They’re adaptable. They can be on the ground. They can be in the canopy. I mean, they are basically big enough to not really have to worry about predators with the possible exception of tigers, maybe snow leopards. So if there were no people around, Orang-Utans would be doing extremely well (Source Bill Brubaker, Smithsonian Magazine, Dec 2010). I find it intriguing that Birute Galdikas ends her statement by saying that if humans were not around the Orang-Utans would be safe. We all know about Orang-Utans and habitat loss. It has been plastered in the vast plains of our media. The devastating effects of the Orang-Utan orphans left behind to die in the most unsavory ways. The abandonment and fear that they experience as a result of their mothers being burnt, poisoned and starved to death must be all consuming, however, no one dares talk or write about this. Keeping conversations firmly focused on the materialist and avoiding the potential for projecting our own emotions and ideas, dare I say empathizing with the potential states of these beings. This is often referred to as anecdotal evidence in scientific circles and is frowned upon. However, it is my suggestion that often through anecdotal evidence we find the most compelling questions that stir the cauldrons of scientific hypothesis formulation. Einstein states that imagination is more important than fact. Indeed, the question is, can awareness or consciousness as it is sometimes called be completely isolated? Furthermore, if we are unable to do so how can it be removed as a potentially confounding factor in experimentation? Science does not have a definitive answer. Professor William Tiller has some compelling research on intention and it’s effects on experimentation but that is for another article all to itself!

I am a proponent of science and the scientific method, however, I cannot deny that for me to type these words requires more than mechanistic programming. It requires a creative flair. A facet of human activity that science has yet been unable to explain. Although science frowns upon anthropomorphism it is conducted within scientific circles unconsciously. Indeed, cognitive comparisons testing primate abilities against those of humans is the gold standard for assessing animal intelligence and awareness. It seems rather ironic don’t you think? We are basing our comparisons on our limited view of what intelligence means to us and what awareness we are able to tap into. Perhaps a more appropriate method would be to compare behavior between and within species, on their level based on their environmental specificities as opposed to an isolated laboratory environment? Yes isolation of variables would be difficult, however, a potentially more realistic understanding of phenomenon would result. Rigorous attention to detail is required and potentially more time, however, more naturalist information would be available. Essentially this is what ethnologists do.

The Problem

Non-for-profit organizations the world over use anecdotal evidence to pull at your purse strings, however, science denies its true validity, reinforcing the notion that this type of evidence is not informative. However, behavior tells us a great deal about the state of any being. Einstein stated look to nature and you will know everything better! It is only the limitations of our own belief system that hold humans in a perpetual sense of mis-understanding or half-understanding with veritable chunks of knowledge missing. Indeed, these limitations create a rather myopic view of the self and others, resulting in the idea of separation. This idea that humans are separate from animals and the natural world creates the illusion that the effects of humans on animals and their eco-system is unimportant. However, the opposite is true. The natural world works synergistically. This means that each part of the eco-system has a role to play and if tampered with creates a ripple effect throughout the entire system. Therefore clearing the virgin forest in Borneo to make way for palm oil trees, for example, not only destroys the natural balance of the Bornean forest, it displaces species (plant and animal) from all parts of the canopy and undergrowth. The delicate balance is lost and the result is extinction of species in a short period of time. Additionally, it creates an invisible imbalance in economical terms. While more money is made by those selling the palm oil, tourism is affected and non-for-profit organizations are required to move in and take care of the orphans and injured in the attainment of this red oil. Indeed, a great deal of expense is placed on trying to transport, house, feed, rehabilitate these red ape orphans, with few taking a vested interest in their welfare. Ironically, palm oil is the same color as an Orang-Utan (red) and yet for each jar of palm oil produced we are closer to losing this intelligent species.

Palm Oil replacing Orang-Utan

If one were to switch places with an Orang-Utan to feel and sense its anguish, I wonder what you would be compelled to do? And yet these red apes seem resigned to their fate and rather forgiving if they survive. They flirt with death everyday to provide humans with goods such as soaps, shower gel, shampoos, cosmetics, sweet bakery goods and paper. Next time you reach for your favorite cosmetics or sweet bun and see palm oil as part of the ingredient list cast your mind to the species who were burned, injured, orphaned and killed for your pleasure. It sure is a sobering image and makes one realize that we are all responsible for this planet and the species upon it. (All references upon request).

What you can do

1. Check the ingredients of your cosmetics, bath products and vegan fare (biscuits, chocolate, cakes etc). Is the palm oil used from a sustainable source outside of Malaysia and Indonesia? Look for the Forest Stewardship Council logo on products that show sustainable forestry.

2. Avoid all products with palm oil.

3. Write to the companies who use this ingredient to make their products and tell them why you do not want to buy their product (it has palm oil) and urge them to change their ingredients.

4. Avoid Paseo and Livi Paper products. They are part of the Asia Pulp and Paper. They are responsible for major deforestation in Orang-Utan prevalent areas.

5. Educate and spread the word.

Witness

In 2006 I visited Borneo and was privileged to see Orangutans in their natural habitat. Even then I was devastated to see that the Virgin forest had been cleared to make way for palm oil plantations. Hectares and hectares of palm oil replaced the once Virgin forest that was once the home to these most intelligent apes. I can only imagine what it is like now - I have followed this story and I know the devastation is creating not just loss of species and habitat but has changed the landscape and weather patterns. So this is now becoming systemic and no longer isolated to particular species.

Conservation is not in a Zoo

In 2009 as part of my undergraduate thesis (Imitation in Gorilla and Gibbon Mother-Infant dyads) I was struck by Carla a captive Orang-Utan who was housed with the Gibbons. She was extremely intelligent and extremely bored. Unbeknownst to the Zookeepers Carla was building a way to get out of her enclosure and one day she exited - much to the surprise of many zoo guests. The Zoo was shut down and I was locked inside the primate area for my safety. I got a first hand experience of what it is like to be caged like an Orangutan. I was there for 2 hours before Carla was back in her outside enclosure. It was clinical, boring, internally I felt like there was a void and devastated that all I could see were bars and grey walls, while my feet were on cement. This is the life of the exotic animals we keep in captivity - so that humans can enjoy a day at the Zoo. Oh and yes they do propose that it is educational and worthy because the animal is conserved......that is a whole other post I will be writing soon.....For me this is a devastating result of human encroachment and greed.

Orang-Utans will become extinct in 10 years or less at this rate.

What will you do about it?

Photo Source: Pixabay