Selfie-taking tourists risk giving orangutans Covid, say scientists
The IndependentSign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A team of conservation researchers examined social media evidence of visitors to Indonesia’s Mount Leuser National Park and found that, despite local wildlife rules and guidelines, tourists in Indonesia were breaching a “10-metre rule” in order to get up close to the endangered apes. There appears to be apathy within the wider conservation community to promote awareness of these rules.” The report also highlighted inappropriate closeness between human visitors and orangutans at Gunung Leuser National Park in North Sumatra. “In the photos we analysed we saw tourists touching, patting, cuddling, feeding and getting very close to orangutans for selfies,” reported Emma Hankinson, one of the researchers on the team. “We desperately need to promote awareness of these rules so visitors know they must not get close to or feed orangutans,” said Molyneaux of the report’s findings.
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