WWF Helps Orangutans to Keep on Swinging

The distinctive orange color of the orangutan makes it easily identifiable around the world. The orangutan is the largest tree-climbing mammal in the world, and it is the only great ape found in Asia. Its name means "Man of the Forest" in Malay, but ironically it is humans that are threatening orangutans by destroying their forest homes. The forests of Indonesia and Malaysia are fast disappearing due to logging and deliberate burning to make way for agriculture and palm oil plantations. WWF is working to protect the orangutans - and all of the other residents of these forests - through its "Heart of Borneo" project which promotes the creation of protected areas and the maintenance of sustainably managed forests.