The plummeting numbers of orangutans in the wild has been linked, via DNA evidence, directly to human influence, according to a new study. The BBC reports that researchers studied genetic diversity in orangutans in a Malaysian forest and found that a shrinking of the animals’ gene pool coincides directly with the clearing of the forest in the same area, 200 years ago.
According to one of the researchers, “The genetic diversity of the population showed a very strong signal of a massive population decline.”
Orangutans, a species of great ape, number only 50,000, according to the United Nations. They live in southeast Asia, in Borneo, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The scientists on the genetic study worry that declining genetic diversity among populations of the animals living in fragmented forest areas – isolated islands in seas of deforestation – could suffer from inbreeding, which would further hurt the orangutans’ chances for survival.
Photo credit: Orangutan Foundation
Interests: Horseback riding, watching the silence of the snow, obviously anything creative, cooking
Inspiration: Like most of you, when I heard of recycling to save the earth, I naturally assumed I needed to separate my plastics, newspapers and glass. I was helping. That was all I needed to do. Then one day, I was searching around for something fun, some art, and I came across this abstract piece. It was gorgeous - it looked like a naturally formed wave of icy white water bursting into the air. When I looked closer at it, I saw that it was made from recycled plastic caps. I was in shock. What kind of imagination and talent does that take to look at a plastic cap and see more to it then what it actually is? How can someone be so ingenious that they can take something that we normally throw away and create such a piece of beauty with it? This is the thought process that I could not stop pondering and it took over my mind, body and soul and soon enough became my muse.
I began Earth's Journey for this reason. I wanted to show the world that there was more to saving the earth than just recycling. There is beauty in things we can't even imagine, and so many ways to help our planet flourish. There are products out there that we all could use to completely decorate, furnish and run a home... all environmentally safe. You can buy organic bedding, non-toxic cleaning detergents, solar power, or make a change in a small way by using energy-efficient light bulbs. But the best part of recycling and being eco-friendly is the beauty that you'll find here, with all of our different artisans. As you can see I'm very passionate about this type of artistic creativity, and I hope you will be too.
I invite you to sit back, relax and ... Be Inspired by Green!
Orangutans are my favorite of the great apes! They are the most beautiful redheads ever! Their facial expressions and personalities are amazing. This is a show of the virus-like nature of mankind. We destroy all areas we spread to and touch. When will we learn?!