A new species of great ape has been discovered in the Batang Toru ecosystem located in North Sumatra, Indonesia.
But don’t get too excited; Pongo tapanuliensis, known as the Tapanuli orangutan, is also one of the most threatened great apes in the world.
Researchers discovered the new orangutan in 1997, but it wasn’t clear at the time that this species of orangutan had clear enough differences to designate them as a separate species than the great apes already classified. In 2013, a skeleton belonging to one of these orangutans was acquired, and studies of the skull showed differences in the skull and teeth from other apes.
After analysis, it was also discovered that the orangutans seem to be direct descendants of the original orangutans who migrate from Asia.
Following this discovery, researchers now believe there are only about 800 Tapanuli orangutans left in the Batang Toru ecosystem. Due to hunting and an encroachment on their habitat by a hydroelectric dam, the species is at risk of becoming extinct.
National Geographic writes about the Tapanuli orangutan, or what they call the “new” orangutan, here.
Read the full study here.
Learn more about the Tapanuli orangutan here.
