Orangutans of Borneo and Sumatra remain critically endangered, their survival increasingly threatened by human-driven destruction. In recent years, research has revealed that there are not just two species of these great apes — the Bornean and the Sumatran — but also a third, the Tapanuli orangutan, described in 2017. With only about 700 individuals surviving in the Batang Toru forest, the Tapanuli is considered the most imperiled of all. This discovery underscores both the fragility of our understanding of their diversity and the precarious state of their continued existence.
The greatest danger to orangutans comes from the loss and fragmentation of their forest homes. In Sumatra, illegal deforestation linked to palm oil expansion has advanced into critical areas, including the Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve, a UNESCO-recognized stronghold for orangutans. In Batang Toru, planned mining and development projects threaten the last refuge of the Tapanuli population, sparking public opposition and petitions calling for protection. Meanwhile, in Borneo, even as the government has ordered companies to stop clearing peatlands and begin restoring damaged ecosystems, corporate expansion continues. One palm oil firm, PT Equator Sumber Rezeki, has been seeking to enlarge its concession, with nearly a quarter of its land overlapping with orangutan habitat.
Though orangutans are intelligent and adaptable, their resilience has limits. Conservationists have tried to mitigate the damage by constructing canopy bridges, allowing the apes to cross fragmented forests safely. Yet researchers warn that constant stress and disruption take a toll. Orangutans experiencing sleep deprivation show weakened immunity and reduced cognitive ability, and behavioral shifts like avoiding human activity or altering nesting patterns may help them survive in the short term but ultimately expose them to new dangers and conflicts.
Even small incursions into their territory can tip the balance toward extinction. Without stronger protections and a genuine halt to forest conversion, the survival of these great apes will remain in jeopardy.
