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.

Wildlife experts are concerned about the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutans in North Sumatra, Indonesia, after Cyclone Senyar struck in late November. The apes, only identified as a distinct species in 2017, have not been seen or heard in their usual habitat in the Batang Toru forests since the cyclone caused devastating floods and landslides. Conservationists fear the orangutans may have been swept away, a concern heightened by the discovery of a carcass believed to be that of a Tapanuli orangutan. With fewer than 800 individuals remaining, any loss would severely impact the species. Over 900 people have died in Indonesia due to the cyclone, and the impact on the orangutan population is being studied.