<p>She was so unbelievably friendly - I almost believed that she recognised me and she was smiling at me in the most beautiful way - yes  - I mean really smiling! These photos caused great joy but it was tinged with great sadness as I don't care what anybody says - I hate to see these intelligent animals in captivity. 
</p><p>Orangutans share 97% of their DNA with humans. 
</p><p>Orangutan habitat destruction due to logging, mining and forest fires, as well as fragmentation by roads, has been increasing rapidly in the last decade.  A major factor in that period of time has been the conversion of vast areas of tropical forest to oil palm plantations in response to international demand (the <b>palm oil</b> is used for cooking, cosmetics, mechanics, and more recently as source of biodiesel). Some UN scientists believe that these plantations could lead to the extinction of the species by the year 2012. <i>Wikipedia</i>
</p><p>Kiani was born 25th June 1978 - so she is 30 years old!
</p><p>(Taken through glass) &amp; this one made it to Explore #230 she deserves it!
</p><p>Thanks to peterd482001 from comments below for blogging about the palm oil "forests" 
</p><p>"In the wake of the biofuels boom, there has been a rush to chop down rainforests to make way for palm oil plantations. The UN says that the growth in such plantations is now the main cause of rainforest destruction in Malaysia and Indonesia". 
</p>
STOP USING PALM OIL NOW people - please!!
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/16971123@N05">Nonie</a> from Australia
CC BY 2.0
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/16971123@N05/2408799167/">Kiani</a>