New orangutan species has been discovered in Sumatra, Indonesia, marking a major scientific breakthrough. Scientists have identified a small population of orangutans living in the Batang Toru forest as a third distinct orangutan species in the world, according to Reuters.
New orangutan species in Sumatra was confirmed by a team of researchers who found clear genetic, skeletal, and dental differences from the two known orangutan species. Based on these scientific facts, the researchers concluded the population deserves recognition as a unique species.
The species has been officially named Tapanuli orangutan, with the scientific name Pongo tapanuliensis. This discovery increases the total number of great ape species globally, alongside gorillas in eastern and western Africa, chimpanzees, and bonobos.
Scientists expressed serious concern about the survival of the Tapanuli orangutan species. Conservation biologist Matthew Nowak from the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program said fewer than 800 individuals remain, spread across three fragmented forest areas.
Nowak warned that the species faces multiple threats. These include hunting by humans and severe habitat loss. Large parts of the Tapanuli orangutan’s range are at risk from small-scale farming, mining exploration, hydropower projects, geothermal development, and agricultural plantations.
Orangutans, which means “people of the forest” in Indonesian, are the largest tree-dwelling mammals in the world. They spend most of their lives in trees, using their long arms to move between branches. Orangutans live mostly alone, sleep in trees, and feed mainly on fruit in the forest canopy.
Evolutionary geneticist Michael von Krützen from the University of Zurich described the discovery as rare and important. He said finding a new great ape species today is remarkable, especially since most great apes are already facing extinction.
Von Krützen stressed the urgency of habitat protection. He said protecting orangutan forests also helps preserve many other animal and plant species living in the same ecosystems.
Previously, orangutans were considered a single species. In 1996, scientists officially recognized two species: one in Sumatra and one in Borneo. The Tapanuli orangutan lives south of the known range of the Sumatran orangutan.
This population remained unknown to scientists until about 20 years ago. Researchers also examined the skeleton of a Tapanuli orangutan that died after being injured by villagers. The analysis revealed distinct differences in tooth structure and skull shape, supporting its classification as a separate species.