Tapanuli orangutan

The Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) is a critically endangered great ape species, only identified as distinct from Sumatran and Bornean orangutans in 2017. They inhabit the Batang Toru forests of North Sumatra, Indonesia. Recent catastrophic floods in late November have severely impacted their habitat, leading scientists to describe the event as a potential "extinction-level disturbance." The floods have caused significant damage and fatalities within the already small population, estimated to be between 33 and 54 individuals. The unusual silence in the forests is raising concerns among wildlife experts and conservationists, highlighting the vulnerability of this newly discovered species and the urgent need for conservation efforts to mitigate the impact of environmental disasters on their survival.