Palm oil workers killing endangered orangutans

According to a feature in The Manila Times workers on Indonesian palm plantations are deliberately killing orangutans to stop them eating seedlings.

Hardi Baktiantoro, director of the Center for Oran­gutan Protection (COP) says that at least 1500 orangutans died in 2006. Most died as a result of deliberate attacks, but the destruction of their habitat was also blamed: “Orangutans have become the victims of torture by plantation workers as they wander and eat palm oil seedlings for survival."

The COP is urging the government to cancel concessions to palm oil industry to help halt the loss of the apes. Baktiantoro said: “Central Kalimantan is the final frontier of the oran­gutan population in Indonesia. If the forest clearing continues, we will soon lose our national treasure.”