Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: Malaysia’s “orangutan diplomacy” aims to use the endangered species as diplomatic gifts to trade partners who buy the country’s palm oil, hoping to improve its image amid accusations of unsustainability.
Inspired by China’s successful “panda diplomacy,” Malaysia sees orangutans as a way to signal commitment to certain values.
Orangutans, the only great apes found outside of Africa, inhabit Sumatra and Borneo in Southeast Asia. They prefer tropical forests, particularly in river valleys and floodplains. With an extremely low reproductive rate, their populations are highly vulnerable. All three species are classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
