A group of researchers warned this Friday (12) that flooding in Indonesia could have serious consequences for a species of orangutan already on the verge of extinction on the island of Sumatra.
Since the end of November, the northwest of the island has been hit by devastating floods which have left nearly a thousand dead and more than 220 missing, according to data published Thursday (11) by the authorities.
Sumatra is home to a very rare species of orangutan, the Tapanuli orangutan, first described in 2017, with fewer than 800 individuals remaining in the wild.
Researchers analyzed satellite images of flood damage, including in one of three areas in Sumatra home to 581 primates of this species.
They then produced an article, still in preliminary version and consulted by the AFP press agency, in which they compared the floods to a “level disturbance likely to cause the extinction” of the Tapanuli orangutans.
However, the paper is in its early stages: it is due to be pre-published in the coming days and has not yet undergone peer review.
“We think that between 6% and 11% of the orangutans (who lived there) are probably dead,” biologist Erik Meijaard told AFP, highlighting the vulnerability of the species.
Researchers say they have already found a dead orangutan in the area and fear that mud, trees and water have washed away both the wild animals, their habitats and their food sources. It is estimated that almost 9% of the surveyed area was destroyed.
Scientific studies indicate that climate change is leading to more intense rainfall because the atmosphere, when heated, retains more moisture. Additionally, rising ocean temperatures can exacerbate storms.
Environmentalists, experts and the Indonesian government also point to deforestation as one of the factors contributing to flash floods and landslides in Sumatra.
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