Great apes face imminent extinction from habitat destruction: UN

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2005

NAIROBI (AFP) — Increasing human encroachment of equatorial rainforests in Africa and southeast Asia threatens imminent extinction of earth's dwindling population of great apes, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said.

In a report released ahead of an international conference next week on saving the highly endangered species from total annihilation, it said habitat destruction posed as great a threat to great apes as poaching and disease.

At least 90 percent of areas now inhabited by great apes -- gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos (pygmy chimps) in Africa and orangutans in southeast Asia -- will be affected within 30 years unless urgent action is taken now, UNEP said.

"If current trends continue, by 2032: 99 percent of the orangutan range will suffer medium to...