Orangutans: Grasping the Last Branch (1989)

Destruction of the rain forests threatens the continued existence of the orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and possibly other species through global warming caused by the "greenhouse effect" as carbon dioxide begins to build up without the plants of the tropical forest to convert it into oxygen. Orangutans are seen in the wilds of Borneo, at the rehabilitation center of Birute Galdikas, and in captivity at the Los Angeles Zoo. Efforts to battle poachers dealing in illegal animal trade and the efforts of Galdikas' rehabilitation camps are investigated by nature photographers David Root and Evelyn Gallardo through the story of a typical orang infant named Roger. This film is narrated by Betty Thomas. It includes a suggested reading list.