Scientists have identified a new species of great ape on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, finding that a small population of orangutans inhabiting its Batang Toru forest merits recognition as the third species of these shaggy reddish tree dwellers.
Researchers said on Thursday these orangutans boast genetic, skeletal and tooth differences from the two other species of orangutan, meriting recognition as a unique third species. That would bring to seven the number of great ape species worldwide aside from people, alongside Africa’s eastern and western gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos.
Scientists are worried about the future of the newly identified species, one of humankind’s closest relatives. They have labelled the species the Tapanuli orangutan, with the scientific name Pongo tapanuliensis.
“There are no more than 800 individuals remaining across three fragmented forest areas,” said conservation biologist Matthew Nowak of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme.
In addition to threats like hunting by humans, Nowak said, “Significant areas of the Tapanuli orang-utan’s range are seriously threatened by habitat conversion for small-scale agriculture, mining exploration and exploitation, a large-scale hydroelectric scheme, geothermal development and agricultural plantations.”