The Primate on the Brink of Extinction

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the Sumatran orangutan is on the critically endangered list. This distinction means that the species faces an extremely high risk of extinction. It’s determined by criteria including the species’ increasing range restriction, a marked decrease in population, and an already low population to start with. Orangutans are believed to be one of the most intelligent animals on earth and closely related to humans. The fact that they are on the brink of extinction is a great source of worry for many conservationists.

About the Sumatran Orangutan

There are three types of orangutans left in the world. The Bornean, the Tapanuli and the Sumatran. It’s believed that there are only 14,000 individual Sumatran orangutans left in the wild. They can weigh anywhere from 66-198 pounds and be 4-5 feet tall. They are native to Sumatra, a small island in western Indonesia that is bordered by the Strait of Malacca and the Indian Ocean. The orangutan originally spread across the entire island, but have been limited to the north side. 

Scientists believe there are nine existing populations of the orangutans within Sumatra, but only seven are viable long-term, meaning they have more than 250 individuals. Three populations have more than 1,000 primates, and some are in captivity. Orangutans kept as illegal pets are reintroduced into the wild at the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park. The park is a famous refuge place for animals like the Sumatran orangutan, tiger and elephant. There are about 70 of them and they are increasing the population slowly.

The primates are solitary creatures, and adults usually live alone. They eat forest foods, leaves and fruits. As they often have to roam large spaces to find food, it’s better for them if they hunt alone. Males are more solitary, while females overlap home areas with other females, particularly in places with excess food. Orangutans are territorial and establish their own home range and their interactions with other animals are brief, mostly for mating purposes.

The exception to this rule is the mother and baby bond. Their young stay with their mother for anywhere from six to eight years. The infant relies on the mom for protection and food, and they have a close bond.

The female gives birth to one infant every eight or nine years, so this isn’t a population that replenishes quickly. Unlike animals that have litters or lay eggs, primates are similar to humans in that they deliver one baby at a time. Increasing numbers is a long, tedious game spanning decades.

One of the major dangers of losing these orangutans is that they are huge seed dispersers. Sumatran orangutans are frugivores, or animals that feed on fruit. They are responsible for spreading seeds over their native area, and losing them means many tree species could also disappear. 

Threats to the Sumatran Orangutan

Human activity is a big part of the problem when it comes to threats to the Sumatran orangutan. Some threats can be reversed with the enforcement of current laws and habitat conservation efforts.

Hunting

Indonesia put legal protections in place for the Sumatran orangutans in the 1930s, but people still captured them and kept them in their homes as a type of status symbol. People hunt them for food, and there is little to no effort to enforce these laws. The ambivalence of law enforcement toward these animals is one of the biggest obstacles they face. 

Scientists determined that if even one percent of the female Sumatran orangutan are killed every year due to hunting or other man-made issues, it could completely change the trajectory of the animal and lead to their extinction.

Habitat Loss

As with many other animals, the Sumatran orangutan also faces a loss of habitat. They require a robust high-quality habitat to survive. As stated above, the primates used to reside across the island but are now limited to rainforest areas on the north side. In Indonesia, forests are often destroyed and developed for agriculture or converted to oil palm plantations. There have also been many fires in the area as developrs clear land for the plantations. While this destroys their habitat – it’s also believed that many primates die in these fires because they move so slowly.

Palm oil is used in biofuels, infant formula, snacks like ice cream and chocolate, baking and cooking. It’s a very valuable substance, but the over-consumption of it is threatening the lives of these magnificent primates.

Human Conflict

As their habitat dwindles, many orangutans wander into villages or communities looking for food or a safe place to live. Residents are often afraid of them or see them as pests, and retaliate violently through shooting or trapping.

Climate Change

Climate change increases the chances of fire throughout the rainforests where the orangutans live. It also affects the rainfall patterns and temperature in the same area, leading to abnormal temperatures in the rainforests where the orangutan lives. Ultimately this changes the landscape of the species’ habitat and may affect their ability to feed and breed safely.

Fragmenting Populations

As forests are fragmented, orangutans are isolated from each other. This means that the groups may turn to inbreeding, reducing genetic diversity. Inbreeding also makes them vulnerable to environmental changes and diseases. 

Conservation Efforts for the Sumatran Orangutan

Some orangutan habitats are protected, including the Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser and Gunung Leuser National Park in Sumatra. These areas provide key living space for the animals without the threat of hunting, inbreeding or fire.

As many of the forested areas are cleared to create palm oil plantations, groups like The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil work with companies to find sustainable practices so there is no need for additional plantations. Other conservation organizations and authorities monitor the area with drones and satellite technology to stop illegal land clearing and logging. Enforcement of anti-deforestation laws is becoming more aggressive.

Law enforcement works to prevent the illegal pet trade and hunting. Conservation groups provide training to authorities and teach them how to patrol protected areas. When an orangutan is saved from a dangerous situation or captivity, wildlife rescue centers like the BOS Foundation and The Orangutan Project work with them to reintroduce them into the wild if possible. 

To understand and improve the genetics and health of the populations, zoos and research centers conduct studies on captive animals. This is done to set up a backup plan if populations in the wild decrease significantly. International organizations like The Orangutan Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation International and World Wildlife Federation advocate glocally for the protection of the forest and the orangutan.

These organizations have been able to monitor the remaining populations to identify the most vulnerable areas that require protection. Animal organizations recognize an increased need to protect orangutans and preserve their homes, and rehabilitated animals have been reintroduced into the wild at optimistically high numbers. There is hope for the future of the animals, but continued work is necessary to keep them here.

What You Can Do

Awareness is one of the most important tools when it comes to conservation. Simply put, if humans don’t know there’s a problem, they can’t correct it. Many are unaware that palm oil production is one of the biggest threats to the Sumatran orangutan, and would use sustainable practices if they did. It’s also important to engage local populations in conservation efforts and to help them understand the importance of the orangutan. You can donate to any organization to help, but the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme is native to Indonesia and works on the ground to protect these animals.