The Tapanuli orangutan ( pongo tapanuliensis ) a species belonging to the great apes, could be on the verge of extinction. These orangutans inhabit, mainly, in the north of Sumatra (Indonesia) where they occupy less than 3% of the habitat that they occupied at the end of the XIX century. In addition, according to a study published in the journal PLOS One , fewer than 800 Tapanuli orangutans remain in the Batang Toru Mountains, making them at extreme risk of extinction.
In fact, if 1% of the adult population dies or is captured, the Tapanuli orangutan will become the first great ape to become extinct in modern times, as Erik Meijaard, scientist and founder of the conservation group Borneo, concludes.
On the other hand, the study concludes that these apes moved towards the mountains of Batang Toru due to the hunters, because they wanted to destroy their previous habitat. Thus, in ancient times these orangutans moved through a variety of environments (especially low-lying areas) to search for food and expand their chances of survival. However, they are now trapped in high areas that are not the most suitable for them.
Threatened by a hydroelectric power plant
Furthermore, according to scientists, this limited habitat could be threatened by the construction of a new hydroelectric power plant, which would be located on the Batang Toru River (in North Sumatra). This 122-hectare plant would prevent various populations of Tapanuli orangutans from intermingling with each other, which could lead to inbreeding and limit the genetic diversity of this endangered species.
The company, for its part, suspended the construction of the plant due to the health crisis of COVID-19. In addition, the project has lost funds from the Bank of China, so its construction could be halted for several years. However, Erik Meijaard (and the rest of the researchers who have participated in the study) want the government, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program to use this pause to initiate an investigation and assess the potential threat from orangutans.
