Mining Expansion Threatens World's Rarest Ape Habitat in Sumatra

The expansion of a gold mine in northern Sumatra threatens the habitat of the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan, the world's rarest ape. According to The Guardian, the Martabe mine, operated by PT Agincourt Resources, began construction on new access roads which will cut through critical orangutan habitat.

Fewer than 800 Tapanuli orangutans are left, confined to a mere 2.5% of their historical range in the Batang Toru ecosystem. This expansion could push the Tapanuli to extinction in just a few generations, as even a small annual removal of the population leads to dire consequences.

Ruli Tanio, vice-president of PT Agincourt, argues that the mine provides income for about 3,500 local employees, while conservationists like Amanda Hurowitz of Mighty Earth express that digging for gold in this area is detrimental to biodiversity.

The mine's expansion is expected to clear 48 hectares of primary forest, further threatening the orangutans. Environmental advocates, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature, have urged for a pause in construction until a mitigation strategy is agreed upon.

Despite the company's claims of setting aside conservation zones, scientists like Erik Meijaard warn that the mine's indirect impacts could harm the orangutan population significantly, emphasizing the need for zero losses to protect this unique species.