There are roughly 65,000 Bornean and Sumatran orangutans left in the wild. Both species have a good chance of going extinct in less than ten years due to habitat loss.
00:00There are four species of great apes, bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans.
00:05The San Diego Zoo is home to six orangutans, one Bornean and five Sumatran.
00:11There are roughly about 65,000 both Bornean orangutans and Sumatran orangutans left in the wild.
00:17Both of these species are found in Southeast Asia.
00:20Orangutans have a good chance of going extinct in less than 10 years because of habitat loss.
00:25This is a cycle that is often started by deforestation to establish palm oil plantations.
00:31This removes all the trees and vegetation from the area, and when the trees are gone, the orangutan loses its home.
00:37Palm oil is an ingredient that is found in many products that range from food items to cosmetics.
00:4380% of palm oil byproducts originate in the native habitats of orangutans.
00:49The primary threat facing gorillas in the wild is the mining of coltan.
00:53Coltan is a mineral ore used in the manufacturing of consumer electronics such as cell phones.
00:59Mining for this mineral strips the land of vegetation that removes food sources and nesting areas from gorillas.
01:06Conservation needs cooperation.
01:08The San Diego Zoo works with several organizations that provide educational and financial support for great apes.
01:14But visitors at the zoo can also pitch in.
01:17Consumers need to be more aware of what they are buying.
01:20When buying furniture or wood, check the source of the wood to make sure that what you are buying isn't supporting illegal logging operations.
01:28The bonobo, while small, is our closest living relative.
01:32They live in sophisticated social groups and their entire population exists in only one country, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
01:39War and instability have made it extremely difficult to protect these great apes in their native habitat.
01:45The bonobos share the same threats as their cousins, the orangutan, the gorilla, and the chimpanzee.
01:51They have lost habitat, fallen prey to the bushmeat trade, and it is also common to see them part of the pet trade.
01:58Baby bonobos are often taken from the wild and sold as pets.
02:02The San Diego Zoo works very closely with the Species Survival Plan, which helps breed these critically endangered species in North American zoos.
02:10We also have the pleasure of working with a sanctuary and rehabilitation facility in the Congo called Lola Ya Bonobo.
02:16Donations from our visitors contribute to these conservation efforts.
02:20This spring, our partner in the Congo will release its first troop of orphaned and rescued bonobos into the wild.
02:25The fourth great ape species is the chimpanzee.
02:29Chimpanzees are native to the rainforests of western and central Africa.
02:33Although we don't have chimpanzees at the San Diego Zoo, it is very important to know that they are critically endangered due to habitat loss and the loss of food resources.
02:43The population of chimpanzees is less than 150,000 left in the wild, and it is very possible that they will go extinct within my lifetime.
02:51Guests and friends at the San Diego Zoo can help the flight of the chimps and all the great apes by being conscious consumers.
02:58Know what you are buying, where it comes from, and how it might have impacted the wildlife that lived in that area.
03:04Become aware of the products you use that have palm oil as an ingredient, and try to reduce your consumption.
03:10Make sure that you're buying responsibly harvested wood that isn't contributing to the loss of habitat for animals.
03:15And recycle, any product that can be reused so we don't have to mine for more minerals, like cotton or aluminum, will keep more of Great Apes' habitat intact.
