College of Queensland analysis has discovered regardless of appreciable conservation efforts, the unlawful killing of critically endangered orangutans on Borneo could also be an ongoing menace to the species.
PhD candidate Emily Massingham from UQ’s School of Science managed a group of researchers which visited 79 villages throughout the Bornean orangutan vary in Kalimantan, conducting nose to nose interviews with 431 folks.
“Our examine builds on earlier analysis which indicated killing was one of many key causes for orangutan inhabitants decline, alongside habitat loss,” Ms Massingham stated.
“The goal of our undertaking was to know whether or not orangutans have been killed in latest occasions, to take a look at whether or not conservation initiatives are successfully stopping killing, and to achieve insights into group perceptions and the motivations behind it.
“It has been nearly 15 years for the reason that earlier examine, and we didn’t discover a clear lower in killings regardless of Indonesia’s commendable efforts to scale back habitat loss.
“Thirty per cent of villages reported orangutans had been killed within the final 5 -10 years, regardless of the observe being each unlawful and taboo — which additionally makes it arduous to get an correct image of the true scale.”
Ms Massingham stated Borneo’s orangutan inhabitants had decreased by 100,000 in latest a long time, with present estimates suggesting fewer than 100,000 animals stay.
“Our findings didn’t point out that conservation initiatives are decreasing killing, highlighting an pressing want to enhance the collective method to orangutan conservation,” she stated.
“Killing by people must be addressed, as our findings recommend it might nonetheless be occurring and poses an actual menace to the species.”
Ms Massingham stated orangutans have lengthy lifespans and breed slowly, so are notably weak to inhabitants declines pushed by the dying of grownup apes.
“Our interviews revealed a number of the conditions which result in the killing or displacement of particular person orangutans,” she stated.
“They embody defending crops and taking toddler apes to maintain as pets.”
The researchers outlined suggestions that might enhance future conservation efforts.
“Working with communities and collaborating throughout disciplines and initiatives will probably be key,” Ms Massingham stated.
“Conservationists have to work intently with particular person villages to know their wants and views, determine the social drivers of killing of orangutans and implement options that scale back human-orangutan battle.”
The analysis was performed below a RISTEK allow, with the engagement of a neighborhood social growth organisation to facilitate fieldwork.
