Meanwhile, the IUCN reports that forest loss data indicate that habitat for both the Sumatran orangutan and the Tapanuli orangutan was reduced by 60 percent between 1985 and 2007. With just over 13,000 Sumatran orangutans, and approximately 800 Tapanuli orangutans individuals left in the wild, both species are in critical danger of extinction. That still isn’t a very significant number, but it is better than the population in 1997 which dropped to 12,500. Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) are critically endangered, and there are only about 14,600 left. With fewer than 14,000 Sumatran orangutans and 800 Tapanuli orangutans remaining in the wild, these species are both classified as Critically Endangered. The Tripa swamp was home to around 3,000 orangutans in the 1990s but now has only about 200. The Sumatran orangutan used to be found over the island of Sumatra and further south into Java. The population of Indonesia has grown from roughly 15 million people in 1900 to now over 200 million in 2000. Mother Sumatran orangutans protect their babies and mother them until they are about 8 years old. Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) are critically endangered, and there are only about 14,600 left. Read on how to encounter the problem of endangered mammals . That main population would then split in Sumatran and Bornean orangutans much later, around 674,000 years ago. Furthermore, all monitoring sites are within protected areas, whereas the majority of orangutans occur in non-protected lands 4 , 6 , 7 . Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. Mogensen wanted to ensure that Gulf Breeze Zoo could assist with their efforts. Recent molecular data have suggested a re-classification into two separate species: P. pygmaeus in Borneo and P. abelii in Sumatra. This more than doubles the previous estimate. If you know anything about evolution or genetics you know this is probably not a good thing. Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii) The Sumatran orangutan is a critically endangered species of great ape. The spec ies is critically endangered because of forest loss and poaching, and therefore, determining the impact of future land-use change on this species is important. Orangutans have large home ranges and low population densities, which complicates conservation efforts. Pongo abelii, Pongo pygmaeus. Sumatran orangutans are large primates with an average size of 1.25-1.5 m (4-5 ft), and an average weight of 30-82 kg (66-180 lb). Estimates of zoo populations throughout the world are 306 Sumatran Orangutans and 385 Bornean Orangutans. The latest estimate puts the population at about 14,600 - … Despite this, population growth is slow because they reach maturity at around age 15, and then only reproduce every 8−9 years. It appears to have been isolated from all other Sumatran populations for at least 10.000 to 20.000 years. After many years of lobbying by SOCP, in 2014 the government decided to declare Batang Toru as protection forest. Loss of habitat is a major threat to orangutans, with many living outside of protected areas and, as a result, at greater risk … The Javan rhino is the closest to extinction with only between 46 to 66 individuals left, all of … Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus is the most endangered species of the Bornean orangutans with an estimated population of between 1,500 and 3,500 individuals. 2016). Orangutans are rarely, if ever, found south of the Simpang Kanan River on Sumatra's west side or south of the Asahan River on the east side. The Sabangau River population is the biggest surviving population of this species. Fewer than 80,000 of these animals survive today, their habitats under constant threat of deforestation. Sumatran orangutans live only on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Sumatran orangutans are large primates with an average size of 1.25-1.5 m (4-5 ft), and an average weight of 30-82 kg (66-180 lb). Above is a graph of the population of Sumatran Orangutans over the past 65 years along with its biggest threat, Palm Oil Plantations. So rather than being confined to an area of around 7000 km 2, the Sumatran orangutan range is probably closer to 18,000 km 2. A recent study showed how populations of their cousin, the Bornean orangutan, are plummeting, dropping 100,000 or so between 1999 and 2015. 2004). There are more than twice as many Sumatran orangutans living in the wild than previous estimates suggested, a … It is believed that over 50% of the world's species of plants and animals that live on land are found in the rainforest. Pictured above is a Sumatran Orangutan swinging vine to vine to get across the jungles faster. Sumatran orangutans are relatively long-lived, even in the wild. There are only approximately 14,000 Sumatran orangutans currently living in the wild. Ecological niche With less than 14,000 Sumatran orangutans and 800 tapanuli orangutans remaining in the wild, they are becoming increasingly endangered. So, orangutan literally means person of the forest". Kerinci Seblat National Park is known as having the highest population and occurrence of tigers anywhere in Sumatra, with 80% of the park showing signs of the species. Sumatran orangutans live in rainforests, swampy forests, and mountain forests, at altitudes lower than 5,000 feet (1,500 m). A critically endangered Sumatran orangutan was born at Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, Louisiana, early on February 28.This clip, released by Audubon Zoo, shows the baby orangutan with its mother Reese.“It just goes to show that, despite all of the uncertainty in the world currently, life is carrying on as normal for our orangutans. The state of the Sumatran orangutan is critical with 7,000–7,500 animals surviving in a much fragmented forest landscape [3]. Oil companies use a method of deforestation to re-use land for palm oil. Orangutans are rarely, if ever, found south of the Simpang Kanan River on Sumatra’s west side or south of the Asahan River on the east side. According to the IUCN Red List, the total Sumatran orangutan population is around 7,300 individuals. The minister explained that the Sumatran orangutan population - which stands at more than 13,000 and growing - continues to live in the Leuser Ecosystem, which mainly includes the Gunung Leuser National Park, Rawa Singkil wildlife reserve, and several palm oil concessions. They used to inhabit the entire island of Sumatra, now there are only nine existing populations. The Sumatran Orangutan is critically endangered. Males measure up to 1.5m (4.92ft) while females measure 1.2m (3.94ft) long. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says fewer than 14,000 live in the wild, and their numbers are declining dramatically as development, mining and palm oil plantations fragment their forest habitat.. In addition, a population that is being established in Jambi and Riau Provinces in the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, numbers around 70 animals and is reproducing. The closeness of the Bornean orangutan to us is evident from the fact that we share 97% of our DNA with these orangutans. Current Population Estimates The most recent population estimate for Pongo abelii is around 7,300 individuals (2). It projects a 82% population drop between 1950 and 2025. It is one of only two reintroduction sites in the world for the Critically Endangered Sumatran orangutan. Most of the current population is found in the Aceh Province at the northernmost tip of Sumatra. Excluding populations of fewer than 250 individuals (i.e., considering only populations that are potentially viable over the long term) leaves just 13,587 individuals. Population densities depend to a large degree on the abundance of fruits with soft pulp. We present baseline m odels that incorporate the best available eld data and that seem to accurately describe the dynamics of typical populations of Bornean and Sumatran orangutans in the absence of human-induced Both species have experienced sharp population declines. The zoo said a genetically diverse captive population is important because Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered. This area of contiguous rain forest, covering 16,000 square miles (26,000 km2), is known as the Leuser Ecosystem and is the last stronghold for the Critically Endangered Sumatran orangutan. The Sumatran orangutan has had an estimated decline in population of over 80 percent over the last 75 years, while the Bornean orangutan has had a population … In fact, the Tapanuli orangutan is the most endangered great ape in the world. The Sumatran orangutan and the Tapanuli Orangutan are both only found in Sumatra, Indonesia The conservation status of all three of these species is critically endangered , according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Over the past 60 years, the population of all three species has been steeply declining. history, status, and model results for the Bornean and Sumatran orangutan populations. SOS has worked to help rescue over 132 orangutans, plant over 1.5 million trees, and educate over 18,000 people. Some of these do not even live in viable populations. The only remaining contiguous populations of the Sumatran orangutan ( Pongo abelii) that still number over 1,000 individuals all occur within what is known as the Leuser Ecosystem, which straddles the border between the provinces of Aceh and North … Despite this, population growth is slow because they reach maturity at around age 15, and then only reproduce every 8−9 years. Sumatran orangutans are relatively long-lived, even in the wild. Note: There are two distinct species of orangutans: the Bornean orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus, and the Sumatran orangutan, Pongo abelii. Sumatran Orangutans (Pongo abelii) Population is much smaller than that in Borneo, approximately 14,000 individuals ; Experienced a population decline of over 80% in the last 75 years (Singleton et al. Forests in Indonesia are rapidly being cleared for palm oil … Number of orangutans in the entire, formally managed population since 1940. On average, there are between 20 to 80 different species of trees per … 2008) Population in 2000 estimated at 12,500 individuals; approximately 14% of the estimated population from 1900. The three species look slightly different: Sumatran orangutans have lighter hair and a longer beard than their Bornean relatives, and Sumatran males have narrower cheekpads. Compared to the Bornean orangutan, the Sumatran species appears to cope less well with logging 3, 4. Their dense forest home makes it difficult to determine population sizes, but the Bornean orangutan is estimated to number around 54,000 individuals, while there are an estimated 6,600 Sumatran orangutans. It is one of three known species of orangutan, alongside the Sumatran orangutan, found farther northwest on the island, and Bornean orangutang. This endangered mammal is struggling to keep their population up. Excluding populations of fewer than 250 individuals (i.e., considering only populations that are potentially viable over the long term) leaves just 13,587 individuals. As of 2017, approximately 82.5% of the Sumatran orangutan population was strictly confined to the northernmost tip of the island, in the Aceh Province. On the basis of new transect The Sumatran orangutan population is over double previous estimates, but with the rate at which their habitat is making way for agricultural purposes, devastating forest fires, plus the current level of poaching, this welcome news is not likely to last very long, says an international team of researchers.. WWF works with other organizations to stop Asia Pulp and Paper/ Sinar Mas Group from clearing the largest portion of natural forest remaining outside the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park. The Sumatran Orangutan has recently experienced a population increase, which is fantastic news. That makes the Tapanuli orangutans the oldest of the three species. Maintaining a genetically diverse population in human care is important because Sumatran orangutans have been assessed by the International Union for … A third species, the Tapanuli orangutan, Pongo tapanuliensis , was discovered in November 2017, also in Sumatra. The Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme is endeavoring to conserve viable wild populations of the Critically Endangered Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii). 80% of orangutans live outside of protected areas. 2008; Mittermeier et al. 0 50 100 150 200 250 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Sumatran Bornean Hybrid Unknown Year r s The ages of both males and females can exceed 50 years. A similar fate has met the Sumatran orangutan whose population have declined by 80% in the past 75 years. Sumatran orangutan will commute seasonally between lowland, intermediate, and highland regions, following fruit availability. It was found and safely evacuated over the weekend, the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program said. Male Sumatran orangutans are larger, measuring around 1.4 m (4.6 ft) whereas their female counterparts are around 90 cm (3.0 ft) on an average. Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world, having even surpassed soya in terms of usage. Most of the protected area is dense rainforest, and its inaccessibility is the very reason the park is one of the last strongholds of the endangered harimau (Sumatran tiger). A 2016 study estimates a population of 14,613 Sumatran orangutans in the wild, doubling previous population estimates. In a critical condition Unlike the planet’s rapidly growing human population, orangutan numbers are in sharp decline. As a result, the chances of survival for the species are greatly improved. In a new study, published in Science Advances, Serge Wich from the Liverpool John Moores University in the UK and other researchers estimate the population of Sumatran orangutans at more than 14,000. That main population would then split in Sumatran and Bornean orangutans much later, around 674,000 years ago. Number of orangutans in the entire, formally managed population since 1940. As of today, only an estimated 6600 individuals remain in the wild, when compared with about 54 000 Bornean orangutans (Wich et al. Population number. Weighing in at 230 pounds, he is easily recognizable by his large cheekpads and long hair. According to the recent Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) in May 2017 there are an estimated 57,000 Bornean orangutans, 13,000 Sumatran orangutans and 800 Tapanuli orangutan in the wild. That makes the Tapanuli orangutans the oldest of the three species. Figure 1. Fewer than 15,000 Sumatran orangutans remain in the wild, the Bornean species numbers under 50,000 and the Tapanuli are fewer than 800 in the wild. Males weigh up to 130kg (286.6lbs) and females weigh just 55kg (121lbs) at most. This chapter reviews the published data and discusses the taxonomy and population genetics of orangutans. Males weigh up to 130kg (286.6lbs) and females weigh just 55kg (121lbs) at most. Indeed, the Sumatran orangutan is considered one of the World’s Top 25 Most Endangered Primate Species. Meanwhile, the Sumatran orangutan, whose status is also threatened with extinction, has an estimated population of around 7,500. Now, anthropologists have described a … A century ago there were probably more than 230,000 orangutans in total, but the Bornean orangutan is now estimated at about 104,700 based on updated geographic range (Endangered) and the Sumatran about 7,500 (Critically Endangered). The most stable species of the orangutan remains the Bornean Orangutan, which has seen relative improvements in population from recent years with about 35,000 to 45,000 wild individuals (CITE). The Tapanuli orangutan is a critically endangered species of orangutan that can be found only in South Tapanuli in the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Meanwhile, the IUCN reports that forest loss data indicate that habitat for both the Sumatran orangutan and the Tapanuli orangutan was reduced by 60 percent between 1985 and 2007. The orangutan rarely leaves the trees, even making nests in the branches of the trees to sleep in at night or nap in during the day. The Sumatran Orangutan Reintroduction Centre (SORC) is located in the Bukit Tigapuluh (BTP) ecosystem, in the province of Jambi in Sumatra. There are only approximately 14,000 Sumatran orangutans currently living in the wild. The Sumatran orang-utan is now restricted to the north of Sumatra. 0 50 100 150 200 250 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Sumatran Bornean Hybrid Unknown Year r s Conservation status The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Bornean and Sumatran orangutans as critically endangered species . Although the IUCN has not yet evaluated the Tapanuli orangutan (which was described in 2017), initial reports suggest that its population is fewer than 800 individuals. The orangutan was traditionally classified as two separate subspecies, Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus in Borneo and P. p. abelii in Sumatra. Sumatran orangutans also have the longest interbirth interval (time between births) of all mammals, averaging at nine years. about 104,700 (Bornean), 13,846 (Sumatran), 800 (Tapanuli) Scientific Name. The latest population estimate for Bornean orangutans derived at the International Population Habitat Viability Analysis (PHVA) Workshop in 2016, was approximately 57,350 individuals. Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii) The Sumatran orangutan is a critically endangered species of great ape. The latter is the one you can see at the Saint Louis Zoo. This unprotected forest provides crucial habitat for the The relentless destruction of Sumatra’s rainforests has pushed the Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutans to the edge of extinction. Known for being arboreal and endemic to the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, these primates is considered to be regenerators of Rainforests and contributes to biodiversity. However, only about 25% of the Batang Toru Forest Complex is protected. In addition, a population that is being established in Jambi and Riau Provinces in the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, numbers around 70 animals and is reproducing. Male Sumatran orangutans are larger, measuring around 1.4 m (4.6 ft) whereas their female counterparts are around 90 cm (3.0 ft) on an average. Population numbers of Sumatran orangutans have declined over 80 percent in the past 75 years, and it is projected that this decline will continue. There are about 350 orangutans in captivity in the United States (Rijksen & Meijaard 1999). lc nt vu en cr ew ex Least ConcernExtinct An orangutan in prime living conditions can live for up to 60 years When on the ground, orangutans walk on all fours, using their palms or fists. Establishment of a new Sumatran orangutan population in the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, Central Sumatra, where the orangutans had died out. All species are highly endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered as their population is decreasing day-by-day. 110-137 cm. New Species of Orangutan Is Rarest Great Ape on Earth. As of 2017, approximately 82.5% of the Sumatran orangutan population was strictly confined to the northernmost tip of the island, in the Aceh Province. The Sumatran orangutan has a population of about 5000 living individuals left in the wild while the Bornean orangutans have a population of about 25,000 living individuals left in the wild; both of them have witnessed a percentage decrease of over 900 percent each in the past hundred years. Orangutans that have been confiscated from unlawful commerce or as pets are being reintroduced to Bukit Tigapuluh National Park. Population. Orangutans live entirely in trees. The reason why orangutans are endangered can be summed up with two words: habitat loss. Pressure to destroy mature forests and orangutans comes from multiple sources. The demise of an orangutan population often begins with building a road through pristine forest. Orangutan (Bornean Orangutan- Endangered; Sumatran Orangutan – Critically Endangered) Indonesia and Malaysia produce more than 85% of the world’s palm oil and are the only remaining home to orangutans. Figure 1. Sumatran Orangutan Population More Than Double Previous Estimate. Positive news about Sumatran orangutans is rare. 2008). Population number. Sumatran orang-utan densities reportedly fall by up to 60% with even selective logging. Meet the animals This has actually double since the population was in a dire situation in 2004 with just an estimated 7,000 animals remaining. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says fewer than 14,000 live in the wild, and their numbers are declining dramatically as development, mining and palm oil plantations fragment their forest habitat.. As they are an ape they have no tail. According to the IUCN Red List, the total Bornean orangutan population is between 45,000 and 69,000 individuals. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Sumatran orangutan population in the wild is threatened and critically endangered with less … The main threat to the survival of orangutan populations in the wild is the massive expansion of palm oil plantations in Borneo and Sumatra. The Sumatran orangutan is also critically endangered, with only 13,846 individuals left, according to the IUCN. Krützen says they may be the descendants of orangutans that migrated from mainland Asia to what is now Indonesia more than 3 million years ago. The most recent population estimate for the Sumatran Orangutan is 13,846 individuals, in a total area of 16,775 km² of forest (Wich et al. Population Information. In the lowland forests in … An assessment of forest loss in the 1990s concluded that forests supporting at least 1,000 orangutans were lost each year within the Leuser Ecosystem alone. Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world, having even surpassed soya in terms of usage. In partnership with The Orangutan Tropical Peatland Project (OuTrop), the modification to this project, which has been supported by the U.S. However, they are now only found north of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. history, status, and model results for the Bornean and Sumatran orangutan populations. This land is taken from the forest in which Sumatran orangutans live. Only three populations include more than 1,000 orangutans. Third, the nine government sampling plots and their reported populations represent less than 5% of the Bornean and Sumatran orangutan ranges, and zero percent of the Tapanuli orangutan range. Estimates between 2000 and 2003 found 7,300 Sumatran orangutans and between 45,000 and 69,000 Bornean orangutans remain in the wild. This species, described in 2017, differs from both of the other two species in subtle—but consistent—ways: it has a slightly smaller skull, a shallower face, and various skull, jaw, and tooth measurements that differ. Sumatran Orangutans (Pongo abelii) Population is much smaller than that in Borneo, approximately 14,000 individuals ; Experienced a population decline of over 80% in the last 75 years (Singleton et al. While exact orangutan population counts are always a challenge – various estimates put current counts at between 50,000-65,000 orangutans left in the wild – we do know with certainty that 2,000 to 3,000 orangutans are killed every year. Some of these do not even live in viable populations. Nov. 2, 2017 — Previously only two species of orangutans were recognized -- the Bornean and the Sumatran orangutan. Conservation efforts to save the wild populations of Sumatran Orangutans have seen some success. In fact, Sumatran orangutans have an extremely low tolerance for any kind of habitat disturbance. Within orangutans, most loci show that the Sumatran population is about twice as diverse as the Bornean population. Fish and Wildlife Service since 2013, aims to effectively protect wild orangutan and gibbon populations insitu and establish mechanisms to ensure that this mission is sustainable in the long-term. Learn more about what WWF is doing to protect its future, and how you can help. For Bornean orangutans, numbers are between 45,000 and 69,000 individuals (3). In the 1900s, there was over 85,000 orangutans living in the wild. The Sumatran orangutan population has been fluctuating over the years.