Genetic and behavioural differences have been observed between Tapanuli orangutans (pictured) and others from Sumatra and Borneo.
Maxime Aliaga
A team of around 40 researchers, including two from the University of Zurich, have identified a new species of orangutan that lives in northern Sumatra.
The Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) will become the eighth great ape species known to science thanks to a team of researchers from around the world, including Switzerland. Only around 800 animals exist as part of an isolated population in the Batang Toru forests in northern Sumatra.
In a paper published in the journal Current Biology on Thursday, scientists demonstrate that the Tapanuli population is distinct from the Sumatran (Pongo abelii) and Bornean (Pongo pygmaeus) species. “Through genetic and genomic analysis we were able to show that the Tapanuli orangutan comes from a very old lineage that has been isolated for 10,000 to 20,000 years,” Michael Krützen of the Department of Anthropology of the University of Zurich told swissinfo.ch.
The isolated population of orangutans was first spotted by Australian researchers around 20 years ago. However, it was during an analysis of a skull from a specimen killed in 2013 when members of the Swiss team – comprising Krützen and Maja Greminger-Mattle – became convinced it was a new species. Certain bone and dental features were found to be quite distinct. The re-classification will bring worldwide attention to what is now the world’s most endangered great ape.
Popular Stories
More
Aging society
No house generation: the impossibility of buying property in Switzerland
Living longer: What do you think about the longevity trend?
The longevity market is booming thanks in part to advances in the science of ageing. What do you think of the idea of significantly extending human lifespan?
Switzerland plans to use satellite images to monitor ground motion
This content was published on
The Swiss government wants to detect previously unknown ground movements, particularly those related to thawing permafrost.
Swiss museum wins European environment sustainability prize
This content was published on
The Muzoo Museum in La Chaux-de-Fonds was awarded the Meyvaert Museum Prize for Environmental Sustainability in Byalystok, Poland.
Swiss police chief want criminals to prove they are not laundering money
This content was published on
In an interview with the NZZ am Sonntag, she brought up the reversal of the burden of proof in cases of money laundering.
Switzerland to host European Political Community summit in 2027
This content was published on
The EPC summit brings together the continent's heads of state and aims to be a platform for political and strategic discussion on the future of Europe.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Will Swiss palm oil declaration save orangutans?
This content was published on
Conservationists have welcomed the decision to have palm oil in products declared, but more is needed to preserve dwindling orangutan habitat in Sumatra and Borneo. The battle to save orangutans has brought together Zurich Zoo, NGOs and major retailers.
This content was published on
Published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, the researchers’ observations of chimpanzees and bonobos in Uganda and the Congo showed that young male chimps are more likely to use objects for play as youngsters. While using rocks or sticks, they would laugh or smile in a playful way without using the objects for specific tasks. …
This content was published on
How seriously should we take the news that only Austria is less enlightened among “old” European countries? Is it simply a reflection of Switzerland’s religious history and dislike of change – or a serious failure of the education system? The journal Science recently published a survey by Jon Miller at Michigan State University which put…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.