Wild orangutans are under threat from habitat loss due to logging, palm oil production, mining, and agricultural expansion. Deforestation is by far the most serious threat to orangutans and, over the last three decades, an estimated 80% of orangutan habitat has been lost in the past three decades. Orangutans were once widespread across southeast Asia, but today are only found in fragmented sub-populations on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.
Other threats to orangutans include illegal hunting for meat and capture for the primate pet trade.