극심한 비로 세계에서 가장 드문 오랑우탄의 7%가 죽었다고 연구팀 발표

A team of scientists recently released a report about a disaster that happened on an island in Southeast Asia. During just four days of extreme rainfall, nearly seven percent of one of the world's rarest orangutan populations died. The animals could not survive the intense rain and flooding that came so suddenly.

Orangutans are large, intelligent animals that live in tropical forests. They spend most of their time in trees, searching for fruit and leaves to eat. These animals are found only in a few places on Earth, making them very special and very endangered. The Tapanuli orangutan is the rarest type. Only about 800 individuals remain in the wild, living in a small area of forest on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.

The heavy rain created life-threatening conditions for these animals. When forests flood, orangutans cannot find food or move safely through their habitat. Young orangutans and older individuals faced the greatest danger during this weather event. Some animals fell from trees. Others became separated from their families and could not reunite. The loss of so many animals in such a short time shocked scientists who study these endangered creatures.

Climate change is making extreme weather events more common and more severe around the world. Scientists predict that storms and rainfall will become even more intense in tropical regions where orangutans live. This pattern threatens not only orangutans but also many other forest animals that depend on stable environmental conditions. Forests themselves can be damaged by extreme rain, leaving animals without shelter or food sources.

The situation is urgent because orangutan populations cannot recover quickly from such losses. These animals have very few babies compared to other animals. A mother orangutan typically gives birth to only one baby every eight years. This slow reproduction rate means that populations grow very slowly even under perfect conditions.

Conservation efforts are now focusing on protecting orangutan habitats and reducing climate change through action worldwide. Some organizations work to preserve large areas of forest where these animals can live safely. Others study ways to help orangutans adapt to changing conditions. However, experts agree that preventing further climate change is the most important strategy. Without serious action on climate, orangutans and many other species may disappear forever from our planet.

Inspired by reporting from BBC News.