The Orangutan-Palm Oil Conflict

The orangutan is an iconic primate which inhabits the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Over the past several decades however, its habitat has been cleared and encroached upon, with one of the most serious threats being the clearing of their forest homes for palm oil plantations. We discuss the threats and challenges facing orangutans today, and whether certified sustainable palm oil is the way to ensure their survival in the wild, with Michelle Desilets, the Founder and Executive Director of the Orangutan Land Trust, who has been working in orangutan conservation for over 25 years.