Use, misuse and abuse of the orang utan — exploitation as a threat or the only real salvation?

Synopsis

The current plight of orang utans highlights many important welfare and conservation issues. This chapter explores human exploitation of the orang utan, covering past misuse, present abuse and the future potential use of these animals. In particular, it concentrates on the situation today and confronts some of the questions, and controversies, posed by our continuing exploitation of the orang utan.

The earliest evidence of orang utan use by humans was as a food source — charred remains of these animals have been found dating as far back as 35 000 years ago. Modern exploitation is of a qualitatively different nature. This includes the keeping of up to 600 individuals as ‘pets’ in Taiwan; use in the television and film industries; use as advertising gimmicks to increase the sales of car tyres, tea, and fizzy drinks; and use as a symbol to promote tourism and as a valuable commodity to be visited by over 200 000 people a year. Future exploitation in the form of encouraging high-paying ecotourists to visit the tropical forests of Malaysia and Indonesia may be the only way to ensure the survival of this magnificent red ape.