Great apes in peril

Great apes in peril

Subject : Environment

Context : A study involving over 60 co-authors has found that African great apes, are set to suffer massive range declines due to impacts of climate change, land-use changes and increase in human population.

Concept :

• The study looked at the impact of climate change, human population growth and human land use on great ape habitat range, and developed estimates for habitat loss in the best and worst case scenarios.
• The researchers predict that Africa’s great apes, which include gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos, will lose 85 per cent of their habitat range by 2050.
• Climate change, human land use and population growth push vegetation and other food sources uphill, leaving the survival of Africa’s great apes, as well as other land animals, up to their ability to climb and adapt to new environments.
• African ape populations are currently endangered, largely due to habitat loss, poaching, pet trades and climate change.
• Asia’s only great ape, the orangutan, is also in deep trouble (critically endagered species).
• Its last remaining strongholds in the rainforests of Sumatra (Indonesia) and the island of Borneo (Indonesia and Malaysia) are being destroyed by illegal logging, a proliferation of palm oil plantations, and by widespread forest fires, many set by plantation owners.