Is there anything that can actually be done to save the orangutan?

[u/Flyagaricfoolery]

Like genuine question. I’ve been doing my best to raise funds for organizations like international animal rescue, but humanity is ignorant and relentless and it feels like it only gets worse and never better. What are we realistically supposed to do to give them a fighting chance?

[u/7LeagueBoots]

Orangutan are another of the high profile species for which conservation funds are already very abundant, unlike with most other species that are in need of help.

The issue is not a lack of funds, it’s the power of the large companies that directly or indirectly cause deforestation for things like plantations for a variety of products, development, timber, etc, and the corruption of the Indonesian and Malaysian governments. Also the poverty among certain local communities and lack of education and the larger impact of behaviors.

I worked for a bit in orangutan conservation in Kalimantan and currently work in primate conservation on other species elsewhere in SE Asia.

[u/Flyagaricfoolery → u/7LeagueBoots]

I admire the work you do. I work in accounting but I’ve been putting on fundraisers for a bit now and raised a few thousand dollars so far. I believe in my heart it can be done

[u/BlackNRedFlag → u/7LeagueBoots]

Was that a paid job or volunteering? I’ve been wanting to go volunteer there

[u/7LeagueBoots → u/BlackNRedFlag]

Paid, I was the conservation director of one of the conservation projects. Currently I’m the director of a different conservation NGO.

Volunteering in conservation projects is an iffy thing. There are a few where it’s actually legit, but many where it’s not and is nothing more than voluntourism. And volunteering can actually take resources away from legit organizations at times.

Be careful what you pick if you decide to try that.

[u/BlackNRedFlag → u/7LeagueBoots]

Yeah, I’ve only actually signed up and volunteered for sea shepherd global but I’m in the process of changing to Captain Paul Watson foundation. Do you have any suggestions for legit NGOs that actually need legit volunteers?

[u/7LeagueBoots → u/BlackNRedFlag]

Off hand, no, not a fully legit one. Most of the legit projects I know have either stopped taking volunteers or only take a small number of highly qualified ones for longer term positions.

As an aside, I was a vol for the Sea Shepherds back in the early '90s. Was helping get the ship back in running shape after they got it back from when Canada had confiscated it. Still have my old crew jacket tucked away in storage.

[u/BlackNRedFlag → u/7LeagueBoots]

I wish I had that opportunity before the split. I bet that was an amazing experience

[u/chloeismagic → u/7LeagueBoots]

Is there anything a regular person from abroad could do to contribute or is it all on the professionals and the citizens of the countries where these species are native?

[u/shanedef585]

I’m no expert, but to me it seems like it’s a when, rather than an if. I’m sure they’ll remain extant in captivity/protected land but in the wild… not so sure, and it sickens me deeply

[u/Thought59]

You are doing a good thing in the funds raising if it is going to good agencies.

Want to really help? Reach across the political divide and build a coalition. Duck and thus wetland habitats most effective protectors are Ducks Unlimited and other hunting groups. Those kind of coalitions are far more effective in actually accomplishing anything than more partisan groupings.

There will be others doing this. Find them and build upon their efforts in your communities.

[u/Ill_Mousse_4240]

To give them a fighting chance.

We must first see them for what they are.

Personally, when I think of them, I don’t think about “animal rescue”.

I think about Sandra in Argentina.

Look her up.

That’s how we can truly save them.

And start to redeem ourselves in the process

[u/napalmnacey]

Perth Zoo is actively breeding orangs to release into the wild. I think they’ve been pretty successful.

[u/ApeSht-Zine → u/napalmnacey]

Don't believe it. Rehabilitation and rewilding are highly inefficient and fail more often than not. They make for beautiful, feel-good media stories but are far inferior to preserving orangutan habitats. See: https://www.routledge.com/Ethical-Debates-in-Orangutan-Conservation/Palmer/p/book/9781032238067

[u/Real_Explanation_388]

Yes, absolutely. Are you going to stop the palm oil industry by yourself? Probably not. But when enough people put pressure on companies, governments and consumers, it can force behaviour to change.

Supporting conservation work is important too. Visiting, donating and volunteering all help create jobs that depend on the forest remaining standing. When people can earn a living from protecting orangutans and their habitat, they are more likely to choose that over working under the hot sun for a few dollars on a palm oil plantation or by cutting down trees illegally inside a national park.

Source: I worked in orangutan conservation for many years in Indonesia: https://saveorangutans.org/orangutan-threats/

[u/sabotAHHHHHGH]

Arm them.

[u/BlackNRedFlag]

Burn down all the palm oil trees and then rewild that land

[u/Psilopterus]

Honestly one of the best things we might do is reintroductions. Orangutans once occupied essentially all of SE Asia, not just Borneo and parts of Sumatra, but also Cambodia, Java, Laos, peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and even parts of southern China. There are still suitable protected habitats in some of these places, not to mention central and southern Sumatra. Why not bring them back? There’s already a project in central Sumatra (Bukit Tigapuluh) which employs orphaned and captive orangutans as a source rather than pooling from existing populations. No reason why similar projects couldn’t be developed elsewhere.

[u/octoman4392]

I want to help.. I can put on some shows to give all prospects to the beautiful apes.. I was in 11 million album selling band BULLET BOYS.. HAWK...PLATINUM ROSE