GENERAL BACKGROUND AND INDONESIA'S SUSCEPTIBILITY
Indonesia is primarily a mass of islands. Island animals are more susceptible to extinction and, more specifically, island mammals go extinct more often than those found on the mainland. Isolation and endemism are crucial factors in extinction. Not only are island mammals isolated by an oceanic barrier, but they also become even more isolated due to fragmentation of their natural habitats. Also consider that island animals are most often found in single and small populations. A small population size increases the chance that a species could be swiftly wiped out in a matter of days.
Indonesia's oceanic barrier and increasing rates of fragmentation (due mainly to deforestation) act as barriers to dispersal. This ultimately decreases the chances of dispersal by any mammal whose population becomes threatened by an extreme decrease in its essential resources. These barriers also mean the chances of colonization to the island by other mammal populations are minimal.
When isolation is considered along with the idea of endemism, the risks are drastically increased. Of the 3,305 animal species of Indonesia, 31.1% are considered endemic.
DISTRIBUTIONS OF THE MEGAFAUNA: 1900 VS 2001
DEFORESTATION: WHY DO WE CARE?
"Only when the rivers run dry, the trees are all gone and the animals are all dead will humans realize that we can't eat money..." Unknown.