New research on orangutans

Deforestation has a strong impact on the orangutans' lives (BBC)

Scientists say they have demonstrated for the first time a decline in the number of orangutans as a direct result of human destruction of the environment.

Research by British and French researchers used genetic evidence to re-draw the decline in the number of orangutans in Malaysia before deforestation.

Orangutans live in the deep forests of Borneo and Sumatra. This makes it difficult to estimate their numbers.

But this three-year study first used genetic engineering to track species decline. By surveying hair and stool samples collected over the past century, they can redraw the diversity of genetic records. This allowed the group to paint the most accurate picture of the number of orangutans since the 1890s, and they contrasted this with the record of deforestation.

These two factors coincide closely with each other.

Orangutan population began to decline in the late 19th century when logging in northern Borneo began and the rate of degradation gradually increased as the forest was destroyed at an increase after 1950.

The team said they established a direct link.

Environmental groups blame Malaysia's palm oil industry for most deforestation and call for a ban on palm oil products in the European Union.

It is estimated that there are between 25 and 30 thousand orangutans left in Borneo, of which 11,000 live in the state of Sabah in Malaysia.