Climate Disaster Kills 7% of World’s Rarest Orangutans

A new study reveals that extreme rainfall and landslides, driven by the climate crisis, killed 7% of the remaining Tapanuli orangutan population. This makes it the world’s rarest great ape, now facing a severe threat to its survival. The research found that 58 of the 800 critically endangered Tapanuli orangutans (*Pongo tapanuliensis*) died in November 2025. The deaths occurred after more than 1,000mm (39in) of rain fell over four days in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province. This loss represents 11% of the local population and 7% of the entire species. Scientists warn that such extreme weather events, intensified by climate change, could push the species closer to extinction.