Scientists Discover New Orangutan Species

The Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme in Medan, Indonesia just announced the discovery of a new orangutan species — the Tapanuli Orangutan. The researchers have been carefully tracking specific data of the new species for years. Their findings, published in the Current Biology, now prove that there are three orangutan species — Tapanuli, Bornean, and Sumatran. The Tapanuli orangutans are only found in the Batang Toru Ecosystem — an isolated mountainous region on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

The joy of this announcement is overshadowed by the reality that this new species is facing rapid habitat loss through mining, palm oil production, and a looming hydro dam.

With less than 800 individuals left, the Tapanuli orangutans will now become the world’s most critically endangered great ape. The Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme needs YOUR help.

There’s so much more to learn and discover about this new orangutan species. Apes Like Us will be producing more in-depth segments on the state of the Tapanuli Orangutan in the coming months.

Videography/Editing
Gerry Ellis

Apes Like Us is an educational project of nonprofit GLOBIO.
Copyright @GLOBIO 2020

[BonoboD]

Thank you for your important work and for reporting on this important discovery. Looking forward to hearing more about the Tapanuli Orangutan.

[dl]

There aren't three species of Orangutan, only one. Those are sub-species.