Indonesia's Critically Endangered Species at Risk due to Corruption and Corporate Greed

"As of September 2026 more than 60% of the habitat of the Bornean orangutan (Indonesia) was destroyed just in the last 3 MONTHS in fires deliberately set so that capitalists can keep installing more palm oil plantations.

No one talks about this ecocide caused by capitalist interests; orangutans are being captured wandering hungry in search of something to eat outside their habitat. Their habitat is being destroyed for profit. It's a critical situation unfolding in Borneo, the perfect reflection of this predatory system that ravages everything just to boost the economic gains of multinational corporations, which stuff palm oil into 50% of supermarket products." - Daniel Mayakovski

"At one point Sunday (6 Sept 2026), the level of PM2.5 pollution exceeded 500 micrograms per cubic meter, according to IQAir, a Switzerland-based monitor. That is more than 100 times the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit for airborne particles so small they can enter deep into the lungs and even the bloodstream, with potentially dire consequences for health." (phys.org) Wildlife that survives the flames are still in danger of respiratory injury from prolonged smoke exposure. On August 30th a 20 year old male orangutan, Sempurna, died from collapsed lungs due to smoke inhalation. He was found in a dry ditch within a community-owned palm oil plantation in West Kalimantan that is part of a recognized orangutan habitat. RIP Sempurna💔🦧🙏🏼

Orangutans are amongst the critically endangered species in Indonesia that are supposed to be protected, but unfortunately the combination of government corruption and the demand for palm oil poses a major threat to biodiversity across Indonesia. "Between 1999 and 2015, approximately half of Bornean orangutans were affected by logging, deforestation and palm oil plantations, with the researchers estimating that more than 148,500 Bornean orangutans were lost during that period." (via sciencedirect.com)

Orangutans are not the only endangered species that are vulnerable to deforestation. In the 1990s Sumatra became one of the major centers expanding commercial palm oil agriculture. Forests were increasingly converted to plantations, including lands inhabited by orangutans, Sumatran tigers, and pygmy elephants. "The Sumatran Tiger, Panthera tigris sondaica, is critically endangered, with less than 600 of their species alive in the wild today. Once living in Java and Bali, they are now only found in Sumatra, Indonesia. The smallest tiger species, they possess darker coats and narrower stripes than their mainland counterparts. Sumatran Tigers face serious and grave threats from palm oil habitat destruction, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Sumatra’s ongoing deforestation, driven by palm oil and acacia plantations, continues to shrink their habitat. Conservation efforts are underway, but the future of this magnificent species hangs in the balance." (via palmoildetectives.com)

As the future of these majestic animals hang on a thread we may wonder, "What can we do about it?" We can do a lot! As consumers we have the power to boycott the products that contain deforested palm oil. It is our consumption that has created the demand for those products. If we are aware of what these products are, who the suppliers are, and what the suppliers are doing to endangered wildlife's habitat in order to supply the demand, we can STOP purchasing from them. We can help protect the orangutans, Sumatran tigers, pygmy elephants, sun bears, rhinos and all Indonesian species every time we shop.

::CLICK HERE:: for a list of products made with Palm Oil to AVOID.

::CLICK HERE:: for a list of ethical products that are Palm Oil Free!

::CLICK HERE:: to learn more about Orangutan Conservation, Ecosystem Conservation, & To Donate

::CLICK HERE:: to Adopt an orangutan at Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. "In BOS Foundation’s adoption program all of our funds go to one on-the-ground organization that facilitates the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of orangutans."

Please share & raise awareness on social media. Use the hashtags #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife. Thank you for caring!
Terima Kasih🙏🏼