Deadly floods and landslides in Indonesia’s Sumatra last year have wiped out at least 7% of the total population of ​the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan, a new report released on Wednesday showed. The cyclone-induced ‌floods and landslides killed at least 1,200 people and damaged around 300,000 homes, with environmental groups blaming the extent of the damage on the rapid deforestation of Sumatra island. At least 58 Tapanuli orangutans, which are endemic ​to an area around north Sumatra’s Batang Toru forest, were killed in the floods, ​the report said, citing a survey of the western block of the forest ⁠that is home to a majority of the total population of 800 primates. The report, ​a joint study by Brunei-based Borneo Futures, World Weather Attribution and Liverpool John Moores University, did ​not survey the other parts of the forest, which means the death toll could have been higher.

Full report : Deadly Indonesia floods wiped out at least 7% of rare orangutan population, report says.