New Census Shows an Increase in Orangutan Numbers

BEACON TRANSCRIPT – We are eager to bring you a piece of good news from the animal kingdom. A recent census conducted by a team of primatologists in Sumatra showed that the orangutan population has nearly double. The new Census shows an increase in orangutan numbers even though the risk factors are still there.

A team of primatologists conducting a census of the Sumatran orangutan population has discovered that the great ape population seems to be recovering. Based on the latest numbers, the Sumatran Isle is now the home of nearly 14.600 orangutan specimens. The last census, which was taken just a few years ago, showed that fewer than 6000 great apes remained on the island.

Even though the recent survey proves that the ape population is on the mend, the orangutans are still at risk of becoming extinct. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that even though the orangutan population is recovering nicely, the apes won’t be ruled out from the endangered species lists.

According to the organization, the orangutan population has been thinned out due to extensive logging, rapid deforestation, poaching and black marketeering. It would seem that the massive apes are very popular among exotic pet buffs, who will pay large sums of money and go to great length to secure a specimen.

Typically, as the endangered species act protects the mammal, exotic pet buff will solicit the services of poachers or illegal traders to obtain a specimen. Sadly, even though the authorities are monitoring the ape population around the clock, poachers still manage to bring down a few apes.

But, according to the latest numbers, it would seem that the orangutan population has begun to mend. The primatologists in charge of the census said that he shouldn’t get our hopes up too soon. Despite the fact that the numbers clearly state that the orangutan population has increased since the last census, the specialists argued that the risk factors remain the same.

Moreover, this spike can be easily explained by the fact that biologists were now able to find apes in more remote areas, left unexplored during the last census. Whatever the case may be, the apes are still under close surveillance. The authorities will continue to do so until the population has reached a level deemed acceptable by the conservational organization.

Orangutans, as part of the extended giant ape family, is a very social and intelligent mammal. According to the latest research, orangutans, unlike their distant cousins, are capable of using tools to secure their food. Moreover, scientists have uncovered that those tools can also be used for social purposes.

Photo credits:wikipedia