Saving Sumatra’s Endangered Orangutans

Deep in the Sumatran rainforest, two orangutans, a mother and her child, prepare for a coming rainstorm. As the air grows thicker, the mother leads her child into a nest she built earlier that day. Then, collecting vines and leaves, she weaves an umbrella out of the foliage and holds it devotedly over her daughter.

The place these orangutans call home is the Leuser Ecosystem on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It’s the only place in the world where great apes, elephants, rhinos, and tigers coexist. Its 6 million acres of dense rainforest are home to 389 species of birds and 130 species of mammals, including the world’s largest wild population of Sumatran orangutans.

Though they once thrived in healthy jungles from Indonesia to China, wild orangutans, which are among the rarest and most intelligent of the great apes, are now limited to the rainforests of two Southeast Asian islands that are part of Indonesia: Borneo and Sumatra. Mainly because of habitat destruction—in the form of mining, logging, and the leveling of vast numbers of palm trees by the booming palm oil industry—their populations have dwindled.

Two orangutans, a mother and her child, are deep in the Sumatran rainforest. As the air grows thicker, they begin preparing for a coming rainstorm. The mother leads her child into a nest she built earlier that day. Thenshe collects vines and leaves. She weaves an umbrella from them and holds it over her daughter.

The place these orangutans call home is the Leuser Ecosystem. It’s on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. And it’s the only place in the world where great apes, elephants, rhinos, and tigers coexist. Its 6 million acres of dense rainforest are home to 389 species of birds and 130 species of mammals. That includes the world’s largest wild population of Sumatran orangutans.

Wild orangutans are among the rarest and most intelligent of the great apes. They once thrived in healthy jungles from Indonesia to China. Now they’re limited to the rainforests of two Southeast Asian islands: Borneo and Sumatra. Both are part of Indonesia. Their populations have shrunk because of habitat destruction. This loss has been driven by mining, logging, and the leveling of vast numbers of palm trees by the booming palm oil industry.

The Bornean orangutan was declared critically endangered in 2016; since the mid-20th century, its population has declined by more than 80 percent, to about 100,000. The populations of the Sumatran orangutan and the Tapanuli orangutan are also critically endangered.

Orangutans are among humans’ closest animal relatives, sharing more than 96 percent of their genes with us. They can use tools and learn new skills, such as how to wash with soap, by copying people. A 2018 study of Sumatran orangutans found that they’re capable of communicating with each other about things that occurred in the past—a sign of higher intelligence.

In response to the orangutans’ plight, a group of caretakers is trying to protect the ecosystem and find a solution that can benefit both the wildlife and the island’s Indigenous Batak people. The Batak people lost much of their cultural heritage under Dutch rule in the 19th century and continue to be marginalized today. Experts say any successful conservation effort must take their needs into account.

Since the mid-20th century, the Bornean orangutan population has dropped by more than 80 percent. It now hovers around 100,000. In 2016, these orangutans were declared critically endangered. The populations of the Sumatran orangutan and the Tapanuli orangutan are also critically endangered.

Orangutans are among humans’ closest animal relatives. They share more than 96 percent of their genes with us. They can use tools and learn new skills, such as how to wash with soap, by copying people. A 2018 study of Sumatran orangutans found that they’re capable of communicating with each other about things that occurred in the past. That’s a sign of higher intelligence.

In response to what’s happening, a group of caretakers is trying to protect the ecosystem. They’re hoping to find a solution that can benefit both the wildlife and the island’s Indigenous Batak people. The Batak people lost much of their cultural heritage under Dutch rule in the 19th century. They continue to be oppressed today. Experts say any successful conservation effort must take their needs into account.

In 2001, Panut Hadisiswoyo founded the Orangutan Information Centre (O.I.C.), a group that rescues injured and trafficked orangutans, rehabilitates destroyed rainforests, and helps avoid human-animal conflict by educating people who live in close contact with wildlife. Over the past 20 years, the O.I.C. has rescued 270 orangutans from the illegal wildlife trade, planted 2.3 million trees in old palm oil plantations, and given wildlife steward training to more than 6,200 Sumatran students.

“One of our greatest successes,” says Hadisiswoyo, “has been seeing forests that we restored once again become home for orangutans and other animals. It gives them a second chance at life.”

Among Hadisiswoyo’s goals is helping create a group of grass roots orangutan guardians. The epicenter of the O.I.C.’s efforts is in the Leuser Ecosystem, whose rainforests provide livelihoods and drinking water for more than 4 million people. Over the past 100 years, the Leuser Ecosystem has lost more than half a million acres to industry and development. Fifty-five percent of the forest’s destruction has occurred in the past 30 years.

In 2001, Panut Hadisiswoyo founded the Orangutan Information Centre (O.I.C.). The group rescues injured and trafficked orangutans. It also helps repair destroyed rainforests and avoid human-animal conflict by educating people who live in close contact with wildlife. Over the past 20 years, the O.I.C. has rescued 270 orangutans from the illegal wildlife trade. The group has also planted 2.3 million trees in old palm oil plantations and given wildlife steward training to more than 6,200 Sumatran students.

“One of our greatest successes,” says Hadisiswoyo, “has been seeing forests that we restored once again become home for orangutans and other animals. It gives them a second chance at life.”

Among Hadisiswoyo’s goals is helping create a group of grass roots orangutan guardians. The focus of the O.I.C.’s efforts is in the Leuser Ecosystem. Its rainforests provide livelihoods and drinking water for more than 4 million people. Over the past 100 years, the Leuser Ecosystem has lost more than half a million acres to industry and development. Fifty-five percent of the forest’s destruction has occurred in the past 30 years.

Indonesia is a country of 272 million people spread out across more than 17,000 islands; Sumatra and Borneo are two of the largest. The government has mostly prioritized economic development over wildlife conservation.

The destruction of the rainforest has led animals such as orangutans, elephants, and tigers to run out of food in their natural habitats. As a result, many of them wander into nearby villages, where they’re often shot or killed by people who are afraid of them or fearful that they’ll harm their crops.

Because this issue is likely to worsen as the rainforest shrinks, the O.I.C. has begun teaching villagers how to avoid human-animal conflict and what to do when wild animals find their way into town.

The fate of Sumatran conservation will largely be determined by what happens in the next few years. While the rate of forest destruction continues to increase, the work of local activists offers glimmers of hope, according to conservationists.

“My dream is to see Indigenous people reclaim their pride and begin to lead conservation programs,” says Nayla Azmi, 32, an Indigenous conservationist who founded an organization to help preserve Batak culture, promote women’s rights, and push for Indigenous-led conservation efforts.

“If we can give the trust to the people,” she says, “if we can work together and take pride in our ancestral connection to the forest, I believe we will see a great change in conservation on Sumatra.”

Indonesia is a country of 272 million people spread out across more than 17,000 islands. Sumatra and Borneo are two of the largest. The government has mostly put economic development ahead of wildlife conservation.

The damaged rainforest has led animals such as orangutans, elephants, and tigers to run out of food in their natural habitats. As a result, many of them wander into nearby villages. They’re often shot or killed by people who are afraid of them or fearful that they’ll harm their crops.

This issue is likely to worsen as the rainforest shrinks. That’s why the O.I.C. has begun teaching villagers how to avoid human-animal conflict and what to do when wild animals find their way into town.

The fate of Sumatran conservation will largely be shaped by what happens in the next few years. The rate of forest destruction continues to increase, according to conservationists. Still, the work of local activists offers glimmers of hope.

“My dream is to see Indigenous people reclaim their pride and begin to lead conservation programs,” says Nayla Azmi, 32, an Indigenous conservationist who founded an organization to help preserve Batak culture, promote women’s rights, and push for Indigenous-led conservation efforts.

“If we can give the trust to the people,” she says, “if we can work together and take pride in our ancestral connection to the forest, I believe we will see a great change in conservation on Sumatra.”

Matt Stirn is an archaeologist and freelance photojournalist.

Matt Stirn is an archaeologist and freelance photojournalist.