Indonesia floods were ‘extinction level’ disturbance for world’s rarest ape

Catastrophic floods in North Sumatra, Indonesia in late November are estimated to have killed between 33 and 54 Tapanuli orangutans, a critically endangered species with a pre-flood population of fewer than 800. Scientists describe the event as an "extinction-level disturbance" due to the significant loss, representing 6.2% to 10.5% of the total population. The floods, triggered by over 1,000mm of rain in four days, caused widespread landslides and destroyed nearly 4,000 hectares of the ape's habitat. The Tapanuli orangutan population, already threatened by deforestation, mining, and development, faces an increased risk of extinction due to the disaster, with biologists noting that even a small annual loss could lead to their demise.

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