Read Online Forest Fire by J. Burchett - Free Book Online

knocked out in that balloon, after all.”
    â€œOf course,” said Mat, to their relief. “How ridiculous!”
    The branches in a nearby tree swished and Kawan appeared.
    â€œHere he is!” said Zoe. She tried to make the chirruping noise, but it sounded more like a squawk.
    â€œLet me try!” Ben rolled his tongue and made a very good imitation of Mat’s calling sound.

    â€œImpressive!” said Mat. “You only heard it once or twice.”
    Kawan jumped down on to the walkway in front of them. He regarded them solemnly. Mat handed the paper bag to Zoe.
    â€œIf you would oblige,” he said.
    Zoe removed a rusk and held it out. With a low, soothing moan, Kawan reached out a long arm and took it in his fingers. He sniffed it for a moment, and then began to nibble at the edges.
    â€œHe’s being very polite!” laughed Ben.
    Kawan stared at him as he ate. Then he froze, his eyes glued to something over Ben’s shoulder. He pulled back his lips and gave a warning screech that made Ben and Zoe jump. A loud chattering began behind them. They turned to see Biza clambering on to Yasmin’s shoulder, catching at her hair. He looked terrified.
    Ben grinned. “I think Kawan’s telling Biza that this is his territory, and he wants him out of it!”
    â€œI think he’s saying something to us all,” said Zoe.
    â€œWhat’s that?” asked Mat.
    â€œIt’s obvious.” Zoe smiled. “He’s saying, ‘I’m home’.”

WILD RESCUE
    ORANG-UTAN FACTS
    ORANG-UTAN SURVIVAL
    Orang-utans are only found in the wild on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. In the last ten years it is thought that their numbers have declined by up to 50 per cent.
    No. of orang-utans living wild todayfewer than 60,000
No. of orang-utans on Sumatraabout 6,000
No. of orang-utans in the wild in 1900about 315,000
    Life span: about 45 years in the wild.
Oldest orang-utan recorded: 58 years old.

    The name orang-utan is Malay and means “man of the forest”.
    Weight: Male orang-utans are twice the size of females. In the wild males weigh between 80–100kg, but males in captivity can reach 140kg or more.
    Females usually only have one baby at a time. The young stay with their mothers for longer than any other primates except humans. They are finally independent at about 7–8 years old.
    STATUS: ENDANGERED
    The organ-utan is included on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Numbers of the Bornean orang-utan are decreasing, and the Sumatran orang-utan is classified as critically endangered.
    Orang-utans are highly intelligent. They poke twigs into holes to catch insects, and use sticks to test the depth of water before entering it. Some use leaves as umbrellas, as gloves to protect their hands, or even as cushions in spiny trees!
    THREATS
    LOSS OF HABITAT
    The biggest threat to orang-utans is the loss of their rainforest home. Tropical rainforests are being cut down for timber and the land is being cleared for oil palm plantations and mining. Orang-utans have lost 80 per cent of their habitat in the last 20 years! Forest fires, deliberate and accidental, also destroy their habitat.
    KILLED AS PESTS
    Orang-utans are occasionally killed as pests by plantation owners and farmers.
    LOW REPRODUCTION
    In the wild, a female orang-utan only gives birth every 7–8 years.
    She usually has up to four surviving offspring in total.
    PREDATORS
    Humans, clouded leopards, tigers and possibly the Asian hunting dog are all dangers to orang-utans.
    THE ILLEGAL PET TRADE
    Mother orang-utans are killed and their infants sold as pets.
    It’s not all bad news!
    In spring 2009 scientists discovered a large population of orang-utans, possibly more than 2,000, in the remote jungles of Borneo. Conservationists now need to work with local authorities to protect the area. On reserves like the Tanjung Puting National Park the orang-utan can live and