Saving the orangutans

The friendly ape species could be extinct in as few as 25 years. Dedicated groups of conservationists are making sure that doesn't happen.

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A young orangutan saved by conservationists.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/Rosa Panggabean/Antara Foto)The majority of these orangutans live in the dwindling tropical forests of the Borneo and Sumatra islands near Indonesia and Malaysia, sites that have bee)

(Image credit: (REUTERS/Sigit Pamungkas))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/FB Anggoro/Antara Foto))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Mark Baker))

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/Darren Whiteside))

(Image credit: The Associated Press)

A juvenile orangutan clings to its caretaker on Jan. 10, 2011, at a center in Pasir Panjang, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Hundreds of orangutans live at the rehabilitation center where they learn the skills they need to survive before being released back into the wild. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/Michael Kooren))

Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.