Humanitarian intervention: humane not human

The orangutans of Sumatra risk immanent extinction – their numbers have declined by over 80% in 75 years and they now number only around 7300. The plight of the Sumatran orangutans comes in spite of attempts to conserve them through international action, domestic legislation, and the efforts of non-state actors. Furthermore, the dangers faced by orangutans come as a result of human action and omission. I argue, adopting an animal rights perspective, that non human animals are owed positive duties of aid by the international community, and I use the situation of the Sumatra orangutans to model species-blind principles of humanitarian intervention.