Why are Bornean and Sumatran orangutans threatened by oil palm plantations?

Bornean and Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered, and the expansion of oil palm plantations is a primary driver of their decline. These great apes are threatened by the industry in several key ways:12

• Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: The establishment of oil palm plantations requires the clearing of vast areas of tropical rainforest, which serves as the essential habitat for orangutans. This process often involves slash-and-burn methods, which destroy the trees that orangutans rely on for food, shelter, and movement.324
• Isolation: As forests are converted into plantations, the remaining habitat becomes fragmented into isolated patches. This fragmentation hinders the ability of orangutans to travel, forage, and find mates, which can lead to genetic bottlenecks and reduced reproductive success.35
• Increased Vulnerability: The loss of contiguous forest forces orangutans into smaller, less hospitable areas, increasing their exposure to hunting and illegal trade.25

Ecologists emphasize that the destruction of these ecosystems for commercial agriculture is a critical threat that could lead to the extinction of these species in the wild.16