This, combined with El Ni o's unpredictability during the past two years, has created a natural tinder box just waiting to erupt. The compounded peat, leaf litter and timber debris quickly ignited, fueled also by simmering coal seams just under the earth. The tragedy is that the fires were largely preventable. A recent World Wide Fund for Nature report claimed that land-clearing for the planting of oil palm plantations and timber caused up to 80 percent of the 1997 fires. Driven by the fires, hundreds of terrified orangutans have been fleeing from the jungle only to be met with equally terrified villagers who often kill the animals to protect their crops.
Females are a prized catch.
After they are killed, their babies are snatched up to be sold in the illegal market of young orangutans. Stealing babies Baby orangutans, because of their close resemblance to human babies, are irresistible. With their wide eyes, fragile bodies and cuddly dependence, they are often raised as another child in Indonesian households. Most do not survive their dependency stage. Orangutan experts estimate that for each baby orangutan found alive, five others have lost their lives.