As you've probably seen in the news, there has been a new orangutan species discovered to add to the Sumatran and Bornean orangutans! This is a really exciting discovery but brings about the importance of conservation because the 'new' Tapanuli orangutan is actually the rarest of the great ape species as there are only ~800 individuals living in a very small area - the Batang Toru Forest. So, how has it only just been discovered that there is an additional species? A recent case of an injured orangutan found in Tapanuli allowed the new species to be discovered. The injuries were more than likely due to a common case of inhumanity by humans, as cuts were found over his body and air rifle pellets inside. The poor thing unfortunately died and so a full examination of the body was completed and significant differences in skull shape were found.
Before their genomes were sequenced, it was thought that the Tapanuli orangutans were actually just the Sumatran species. But now, we understand them to be more closely related to the Bornean orangutan (Strange, right?) and they are the oldest species of orangutan. So we think that the Tapanuli species colonised Sumatra first and eventually they split into 2 groups as some individuals moved to the North. Some of the original population of the Tapanuli then travelled to Borneo (simple because there wasn't a sea separating them at the time). There was also a volcanic eruption which destroyed surrounding forest, and caused the Tapanuli and Sumatran species to become physically separated. Over evolutionary time, these have now become three entirely different species. It is so, so important that we preserve the existence of these species - all 3 of them. But because we humans so badly desire more than what we already have, we have been destroying the habitats of the orangutan by building roads that can isolate them and killing them because of crop conflict or by deforestation. We hear so much about these kinds of things yet nobody ever seems to make a stance strong enough to stop a road being built or more likely, because humans are a danger to the planet and they just don't seem to care. Furthermore, illegal orangutan trade is a major issue because so many people think they'd make an adorable pet to show off to their friends when they're babies but they are not a pet for a reason - they grow huge. They then tend to get abandoned or are used in entertainment - boxing matches or forced to drink alcohol or smoke (absolutely sickening, I know). Simply put, it's torture. I was lucky enough to see a fantastic sanctuary for orangutans (Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre) whilst I was in Borneo where they have an environment as close to the wild as possible so that they can eventually be re-released when they are ready. It makes you realise how very desperate we are for more caring people like this to help our wildlife! ©
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