Negative Environmental Impacts of the Palm Oil Industry, Deforestation

The high demand for palm oil increased the acres of palm oil plantations and other oil crops. Oil palm plantations grow on extensive areas of tropical forests with diverse species of trees.

Loss of Biodiversity

Expansion of oil palm agriculture over intact forest landscapes can affect downstream biodiversity. When cultivators of major oil crops destroy tropical forests, they also destroy the homes and habitats of many plant and animal species.

Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)

Bornean orangutans thrive primarily in Southeast Asia's forest habitats. Found on the island of Borneo, they prefer living in swampy, hilly, and old-growth rainforests. Their environment varies significantly, from lowland swamps to dipterocarp forests.

Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii)

Sumatran orangutans reside in lowland forests, swamps, and mangroves of Indonesia's Sumatran island. Heavy logging has isolated them in fragmented forests.

Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis)

The Tapanuli orangutan holds residence in South Tapanuli on Sumatra, Indonesia's island. This group was recognized as a distinct species in 2017, thanks to a thorough phylogenetic study analyzing genetic samples and comparing the genomes of orangutans across Sumatra and Borneo2.

Three orangutan species exist in the world

Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) have a robust build and broad face, distinguishing them from their Sumatran and Tapanuli counterparts. These adaptations emerged to help them avoid predators and survive on different food sources. Bornean orangutans spend more time on the ground and have heavier bodies than other species.

Orangutans spend their lives in trees

As the largest tree-dwelling mammals on Earth, orangutans have mastered the trees. They move between branches to find food, shelter, and safety.

Orangutans are semi-solitary apes

Compared to other great apes like gorillas and chimps, orangutans prefer to live alone. For example, adult males mostly isolate themselves; they only interact with females during mating. Though they might cross paths with other orangutans from time to time, they don't last long. However, these apes, particularly mothers and their young, can still be social when needed.

Orangutans give birth to 1 baby every 8 to 9 years

Female orangutans usually give birth to just one offspring every 8-9 years. After delivery, orangutan infants undergo a protracted dependency period3.

Orangutans can solve complex problems

Thanks to observation and imitation, orangutans learn to use sticks to extract insects from tree bark. They poke and prod at the bark to remove the insects while avoiding injury

Negative Environmental Impacts of the Palm Oil Industry, Deforestation

The high demand for palm oil increased the acres of palm oil plantations and other oil crops. Oil palm plantations grow on extensive areas of tropical forests with diverse species of trees.

Loss of Biodiversity

Expansion of oil palm agriculture over intact forest landscapes can affect downstream biodiversity. When cultivators of major oil crops destroy tropical forests, they also destroy the homes and habitats of many plant and animal species.

Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)

Bornean orangutans thrive primarily in Southeast Asia's forest habitats. Found on the island of Borneo, they prefer living in swampy, hilly, and old-growth rainforests. Their environment varies significantly, from lowland swamps to dipterocarp forests.

Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii)

Sumatran orangutans reside in lowland forests, swamps, and mangroves of Indonesia's Sumatran island. Heavy logging has isolated them in fragmented forests.

Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis)

The Tapanuli orangutan holds residence in South Tapanuli on Sumatra, Indonesia's island. This group was recognized as a distinct species in 2017, thanks to a thorough phylogenetic study analyzing genetic samples and comparing the genomes of orangutans across Sumatra and Borneo2.

Three orangutan species exist in the world

Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) have a robust build and broad face, distinguishing them from their Sumatran and Tapanuli counterparts. These adaptations emerged to help them avoid predators and survive on different food sources. Bornean orangutans spend more time on the ground and have heavier bodies than other species.

Orangutans spend their lives in trees

As the largest tree-dwelling mammals on Earth, orangutans have mastered the trees. They move between branches to find food, shelter, and safety.

Orangutans are semi-solitary apes

Compared to other great apes like gorillas and chimps, orangutans prefer to live alone. For example, adult males mostly isolate themselves; they only interact with females during mating. Though they might cross paths with other orangutans from time to time, they don't last long. However, these apes, particularly mothers and their young, can still be social when needed.

Orangutans give birth to 1 baby every 8 to 9 years

Female orangutans usually give birth to just one offspring every 8-9 years. After delivery, orangutan infants undergo a protracted dependency period3.

Orangutans can solve complex problems

Thanks to observation and imitation, orangutans learn to use sticks to extract insects from tree bark. They poke and prod at the bark to remove the insects while avoiding injury