The orang-utans are native to Indonesia and Malaysia. Their habitat has almost vanished, as rainforests are felled or deliberately burnt to make way for oil-palm plantations.
Thousands are made homeless, many more are left isolated. A widespread trade in orang-utans as pets has also worsened their plight. Forest management and conservation efforts are the species' only last and only hope of survival.
Much like humans, orang-utans have the ability to learn from each other.
1935: Tanjung Puting in Indonesia declared a game reserve, protecting the orang-utan habitat from development.
1980s: Increasing demand in Taiwan and Japan for baby orang-utans as pets.
1990s: Rehabilitation camps prepare kidnapped and orphaned orang-utans for life in the wild.
1995: Indonesia's rainforest conservation project aids orang-utans.
2001: Indonesian trade ban on rainforet wood helps orang-utans' plight.
