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.