Orangutans Orangutans live on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in Malaysia and Indonesia and are endangered due to habitat destruction and poaching. The good news is there are many organizations working to help protect orangutans and ensure they do not go extinct in the wild. Actions you can take to help orangutans

• Support orangutan conservation organizations. If you don't have money for donations, ask if you can help in other ways by contributing your time or holding a fundraiser.
• Reduce consumption of paper, wood products and palm oil that result from rainforest destruction in Southeast Asia. Recycle paper and examine labels of food products and cosmetics to look for "palm oil" and "palm kernel". If a product does not use "certified palm oil" there is a possibility that its production has come at the expense of the rainforest. Similarly when buying a wood product, check to see whether it is "FSC-certified".
• Sign up to visit orangutans in their natural habitat: forests of Indonesia and Malaysia. Be sure to choose a responsible operator that supports communities and doesn't abuse the environment.

Orangutan Conservation Organizations:

• Centre for Orangutan Protection. Active in Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo)
• Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation. Active in Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo)
• Sumatran Orangutan Society. Active in Sumatra
• Orangutan Appeal UK. Active in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo)
• Orangutan Foundation International. Active in Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo)
• Orangutan Land Trust. Active in Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo)

Please note, this list only includes orangutan-focused conservation groups that are active in the field, not large NGOs that may have orangutan programs.

News and information on Orangutans