Another Challenge for Orangutan Population: Food
Article here:
Orangutans are losing their natural habitat in the island of Borneo because of the palm oil industry. Farmers are chopping down native forests to grow cash crops. However the loss of territory is not the only reason why orangutan population is declining. Multiple studies suggest that they need very high-calorie foods for survival, which might not be available in any new habitats they find. The study had two populations of orangutans that lived in different areas. One had more food than the other. As a result, the orangutan population was much higher there compared to the other population. The study also concluded that a diet that was higher in lipids and non-structural carbohydrates was more effective than a diet high in fiber. With this knowledge in hand we have to consider a sustainable environment for the orangutans if they are driven away from their natural habitat.
I didn’t really consider the importance of the diet of an animal when it is driven away. Not only is the habitat loss a problem, but so is the search for a habitat. The orangutans may be able to survive in whatever environment they are shoved into, but it will not mean that their population will last. The diet for an increasing population is very specific, and may be hard to reproduce in other environments. Their original habitat is also already abundant in food and fruit while nearby places aren't. I think the best solution to this is that if they, unfortunately, have their habitat destroyed, we should make an effort to make nearby habitats sustainable for their population.
I didn’t really consider the importance of the diet of an animal when it is driven away. Not only is the habitat loss a problem, but so is the search for a habitat. The orangutans may be able to survive in whatever environment they are shoved into, but it will not mean that their population will last. The diet for an increasing population is very specific, and may be hard to reproduce in other environments. Their original habitat is also already abundant in food and fruit while nearby places aren't. I think the best solution to this is that if they, unfortunately, have their habitat destroyed, we should make an effort to make nearby habitats sustainable for their population.