I am outraged by the wanton cruelty displayed by Indonesian farmers (“120 orangutans killed, beaten,” Main news, Oct. 27) toward orangutans fleeing from their smoldering forest homes.
It is bad enough that these animals have suffered an enormous loss of habitat due to primitive and inefficient slash-and-burn agriculture. In defense of these farmers, this is one of the few means of sustenance available for a people with limited resources whose government has not encouraged or provided alternatives. A sustained-use agricultural system is in dire need to avert future disasters such as the one devastating the island now.
Nevertheless, for these endangered primates to suffer torture and death is inexcusable. Indonesia is spending billions on technology and industry to attract foreign investors. It must put even a fraction of that effort into educating its people and instilling compassion in them to save its flora and fauna from environmental chaos.
