Protecting the orang-utan

The direct translation of "orang-utan" is "person of the forest”. They are found only in rainforests in Borneo and Sumatra. Even though they are protected, conservationists warn that orangutans face extinction by 2050, and as many as 50,000 have been lost over the past 35 years due to shrinking habitat, the illegal pet trade and logging Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPA

The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, in Borneo, eastern Malaysia, was founded in 1964 for the rescue and rehabilitation of baby orangutans orphaned through logging, plantations and illegal hunting Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPA

The facility provides medical care for orphaned and confiscated orangutans as well as dozens of other wildlife species. Some of the other animals which end up being treated at the centre include sun bears, gibbons, Sumatran rhinos and the occasional injured elephant Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPA

Newly released orang-utans learn how to interact with an aggressive macaque monkey. Around 60-80 orangutans are living free in the reserve, which is 43 sq km of protected land at the edge of Kabili Sepilok forest reserve. There are 25 young orphans in the centre's nurseries Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPA

Sepilok is considered to be a useful educational tool to educate both the locals and visitors about orangutans. However, the centre ensures that education must not interfere with the rehabilitation process. Visitors are restricted to walkways and are not allowed to approach or handle the apes Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPA

Before the creation of a reserve in the area, many young orangutans were the victims of the illegal pet trade throughout Asia. They were either caught during logging or forest clearance, or captured by poachers who slaughtered the adult apes to get at the youngsters Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPA

In the wild, orangutan babies stay with their mothers for up to six years while they are taught the skills they need to survive in the forest, like climbing. At Sepilok, a buddy system is used to replace a mother’s teaching. A younger ape will be paired up with an older one to learn the skills they need Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPA

Two-thirds of Borneo's 74m acres of primary forest - the orangutans' habitat - has already been destroyed and environmental groups say the remainder is disappearing at a rate of 300 football fields per hour Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPA