Ecobiz.asia – Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry has released the latest population survey of the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan and Tapanuli orangutan, showing an estimated 11,694 Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) and only 716 Tapanuli orangutans (Pongo tapanuliensis) remaining in the wild.
The findings, based on surveys conducted between 2021 and 2023, were presented during the National Seminar on a Decade of Collaborative Conservation of Sumatran and Tapanuli Orangutans in Medan on Saturday (July 18, 2026).
Deputy Forestry Minister Rohmat Marzuki said the survey provides an updated scientific baseline for strengthening conservation policies for Indonesia’s two endemic great ape species, both of which remain under severe threat.
“Orangutan conservation is a shared responsibility. Its success depends on strong collaboration among government agencies, researchers, conservation partners, businesses, and local communities. Scientific data from this survey provide an important foundation for developing effective conservation policies,” Rohmat said.
He said the government will continue strengthening habitat protection, improving the management of protected areas, and enhancing cross-sector collaboration to safeguard orangutan populations.
The survey also highlighted persistent conservation challenges. The Sumatran orangutan population has declined compared with the 2011 baseline, while the Tapanuli orangutan remains highly vulnerable because it survives only within the limited Batang Toru landscape in North Sumatra.
North Sumatra Environment and Forestry Agency head Heri Wahyudi Marpaung said orangutan conservation cannot rely solely on protected areas because the animals inhabit landscapes spanning conservation forests, protected forests, production forests, and other land-use areas.
“Conservation efforts therefore require collaboration among the central and local governments, forest managers, district administrations, businesses, academics, and local communities to ensure effective protection of orangutan populations and their habitats,” Heri said.
He added that the North Sumatra provincial government has strengthened the management of protected and production forests to help conserve orangutan habitats, while district governments are being encouraged to improve management of other land-use areas that form part of the species’ natural range.
In addition to presenting the latest population estimates, the seminar marked the launch of the 2026 Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) for both orangutan species. The assessment will provide the scientific basis for updating Indonesia’s Species Conservation Strategy and Action Plan.
The Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutans are found only in Indonesia and play a vital ecological role by dispersing seeds and supporting the regeneration of tropical forests. Their survival is widely regarded as an important indicator of the health of Sumatra’s forest ecosystems.
The Ministry of Forestry said the survey results and the upcoming PHVA will also support the implementation of Indonesia’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (IBSAP) 2025–2045, which identifies species conservation and biodiversity protection among the country’s national priorities. ***
