Conservationist says India not returning seized orangutans

In a revelation that is bound to worry wildlife activists and conservationists in India, at least four orangutans were seized by various forest departments in the country in recent months, according to well-known international wildlife conservationist Leif Cocks, whose organization works to rescue and rehabilitate the great apes in Indonesia. What’s worse, some of these orangutans have not been returned to their home as mandated by India’s own Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and international...

Bornean elephant, world’s smallest, endangered; only about 1,000 left

Last week TheSnout.in reported the encouraging story of how the Iberian lynx has made a comeback from the brink of extinction. Now, halfway around the world in Southeast Asia, the Bornean elephant, the world’s smallest, has been assessed as “endangered”, with barely 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild as human activities in its habitat rise rapidly, according to the latest update to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. This...

Only a decade to save orangutans, warns conservationist Leif Cocks

Orangutans, often referred to as ‘the noble ape’, embody a wisdom and grace that captivates the human imagination. But what exactly does this moniker entail, and what lessons can we glean from our wise cousins? Leif Cocks, founder of The Orangutan Project and conservationist with over three decades of experience working with the great apes, is set to embark on a transformative tour across the USA. During the tour, he will delve into the depths...

Would you help build a ‘baby house’ for orphaned orangutan infants in Indonesia?

The Orangutan Project, a conservation organization established in 1998 to protect the critically endangered primate species, has issued an urgent appeal to help build a “baby house” for an influx of orphaned orangutans in need of immediate care. Over the past six months, The Orangutan Project has experienced a surge in the number of orphaned orangutans rescued from deforested habitats, illegal wildlife trade, and other threats, the organization said in a press statement. These vulnerable...

Florida park welcomes newborn Bornean orangutan baby

An endangered Bornean orangutan has been born at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida, USA, marking a milestone in orangutan conservation efforts among accredited zoological facilities that are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. Delivered successfully by Caesarean section on Saturday to the park’s resident Bornean orangutan, Luna, the newborn weighed in at 3 lb 4 oz (about 567 gm). The delivery was led by a team of medical and...