Pongo abelii (Sumatran), Pongo pygmaeus (Bornean), Pongo tapanuliensis (Tapanuli)
Orangutan
All three orangutan species are listed as Critically Endangered. Populations have declined sharply due to habitat loss from palm oil expansion and illegal logging.
Conservation Status
All three orangutan species — the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), and the Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) — are classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The Tapanuli orangutan, only described as a distinct species in 2017, has a population estimated at fewer than 800 individuals, making it the rarest and most threatened great ape species in the world. The Bornean orangutan population is estimated at approximately 104,700 individuals, down from an estimated 288,500 in 1973 — a decline of over 60% in roughly half a century. The Sumatran orangutan population is estimated at approximately 13,800 individuals. A study published in Current Biology in 2018 estimated that Bornean orangutan populations had declined by approximately 148,500 individuals between 1999 and 2015 — a loss of roughly 25 individuals per day — with the decline projected to continue.
Primary Threats
The principal driver of orangutan decline is the conversion of rainforest habitat to oil palm plantations. Between 1973 and 2015, an estimated 39% of Bornean orangutan habitat was lost. Indonesia and Malaysia together produce approximately 85% of the world's palm oil, and the rapid expansion of plantations has been the leading cause of deforestation in orangutan range. Illegal logging, mining (particularly for gold and coal), and the expansion of pulp and paper plantations further fragment remaining forest. Orangutans are also killed in human-wildlife conflict when they raid crops, and captured for the illegal pet trade — for every infant that reaches the market, it is estimated that several others die in the process of capture and transport. Forest fires, exacerbated by El Nino events and land-clearing practices, have destroyed hundreds of thousands of hectares of orangutan habitat. The 1997–98 fires alone are estimated to have killed up to 8,000 orangutans in Borneo. The 2015 fire season burned more than 2.6 million hectares of land in Indonesia, causing further significant habitat loss. Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and severity of droughts and fires in the region.
Ecological Role
Orangutans are classified as a 'keystone' species and an 'umbrella' species. As the largest fruit-eating animal in their ecosystem, they play a critical role in seed dispersal — they consume over 500 plant species and disperse seeds across vast distances through their droppings. Research has shown that some tree species depend almost entirely on orangutans for seed dispersal. Protecting orangutan habitat therefore protects the entire rainforest ecosystem, including hundreds of other species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and plants. The loss of orangutans would have cascading effects on forest regeneration and biodiversity.
Conservation Efforts
Orangutan conservation is led by organisations such as the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF), the Orangutan Foundation, and the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP). Rehabilitation centres rescue, rehabilitate, and reintroduce confiscated and displaced orangutans into protected forests — BOSF has released over 500 orangutans back into the wild since 2012. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certifies palm oil produced without deforestation, though its effectiveness remains debated by conservation scientists. National parks such as Tanjung Puting (Borneo) and the Leuser Ecosystem (Sumatra) are critical protected areas — the Leuser Ecosystem is the only place on Earth where orangutans, tigers, elephants, and rhinos coexist in the wild. The Indonesian and Malaysian governments have implemented moratoria on certain types of forest conversion, though enforcement is inconsistent and illegal clearing continues. Reforestation programmes are working to reconnect fragmented forest patches to allow orangutan populations to move between areas.
How to Help
Consumers can choose products certified by the RSPO or avoid palm oil altogether, though complete avoidance is difficult given its ubiquity in processed foods and consumer products. Supporting reputable orangutan conservation organisations, advocating for stronger corporate supply chain transparency, and reducing paper and timber consumption all contribute to reducing pressure on orangutan habitat. Political advocacy for stronger forest protection laws and their enforcement is also critical.
Conservation Charities
Organisations working to protect orangutans. Visit their websites to learn more or support their work.