Species under threat

We start in the Gunung Leuser National Park where the local species of orangutan is on track to become the first great ape to disappear – less than 7,000 of them remain. The demise of the orangutan has been blamed largely on deforestation and the conversion of land for oil palm plantations. And yet, a United Nations Environment Programme report published in September suggests that policies to protect the forest may not only be a lifeline for the Sumatran species but could also be economically advantageous.

Next we head to South Africa, where organised crime gangs are making 2011 one of the worst years for poaching of wild animals. Rhinoceros have been the hardest hit, with hunters targeting the wild animal for its valuable horns.

And finally, we take a look at the illegal trade that’s jeopardising the future of Indonesia’s green sea turtle. Conservationists have been working round the clock to rescue the precious reptile eggs.