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Climate-fueled landslides kill 10% of world's rarest ape species in Indonesia
🇦🇷 Argentina /Environment & Climate

Climate-fueled landslides kill 10% of world's rarest ape species in Indonesia

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Climate change-fueled landslides in Indonesia killed about 10% of the world's rarest ape species, the Tapanuli orangutan, scientists reported.
  • A single weather event in November decimated the critically endangered species, of which fewer than 800 remain in the wild.
  • The disaster destroyed food sources and habitat, prompting calls for permanent protection of the Batang Toru ecosystem.

Climate change has devastated the world's rarest ape species, with landslides in Indonesia killing nearly 10% of the Tapanuli orangutan population. Scientists revealed Wednesday that a single weather event in November annihilated a significant portion of the critically endangered primates, of which fewer than 800 now exist in the wild.

This level of loss is considerable for a species whose total population is so low.

— Erik MeijaardChief scientist at Borneo Futures, an environmental NGO, commenting on the impact of the landslides.

The storm, Cyclone Senyar, triggered landslides that killed an estimated 58 Tapanuli orangutans. This represents approximately 11% of the population in the affected region and 7% of the total estimated wild population. The floods also destroyed the orangutans' food sources and habitat.

The estimated loss of 58 Tapanuli orangutans during a single climate-induced landslide event constitutes a devastating demographic shock for the great ape most rare in the world.

— Jatna SupriatnaResearcher at the University of Indonesia, commenting on the study's findings.

Scientists analyzed satellite imagery of the Batang Toru ecosystem, home to the largest population of these apes, and found that about 8,300 hectares of forest were affected. "The estimated loss of 58 Tapanuli orangutans during a single climate-induced landslide event constitutes a devastating demographic shock for the world's rarest great ape," stated researcher Jatna Supriatna of the University of Indonesia.

To prevent the first modern extinction of a great ape species, Indonesia must permanently protect the Batang Toru ecosystem.

— Jatna SupriatnaResearcher at the University of Indonesia, urging for protection of the habitat.

Ecologists have long campaigned against industrial activities in Batang Toru, including a hydroelectric dam and a gold mine. "To prevent the first modern extinction of a great ape species, Indonesia must permanently protect the Batang Toru ecosystem," Supriatna urged. "But our international partners must also fulfill their global commitments with immediate funding for biodiversity restoration."

But our international partners must also fulfill their global commitments with immediate funding for biodiversity restoration.

— Jatna SupriatnaResearcher at the University of Indonesia, calling for international aid.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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