International Orangutan Day is observed on August 19th as an annual event aimed at raising awareness about primates and the necessity of protecting their natural habitat.
Wild orangutans inhabit exclusively the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia, where the three remaining species face growing pressure from habitat loss and other human activities. Consequently, forest protection is a key aspect of orangutan population conservation.
In Sarawak, Malaysia, a conservation project was launched in 2021 that creates a 389-hectare wildlife corridor connecting the Gunung Lesong and Ulu Sebuyau national parks. This initiative helps improve habitat connectivity and reduce fragmentation. Furthermore, the project promotes agroforestry development across 790 hectares of communal land.
In the Ulu Sungai Menyang Special Conservation Area, local trees have been planted since 2017 on degraded and abandoned agricultural lands. This is done to create a buffer zone between settlements and the main orangutan habitat.
Scientific monitoring is a vital part of conservation efforts. In Sabah state, Malaysia, the Sabah Wildlife Department and its partners conduct research on orangutan populations to assess their distribution and numbers, including work in both protected and unprotected areas. Recent field expeditions have covered locations such as Tawau Hill Park, Tabin Reserve, and Tawai Forest.
Potential threats can be devastating. According to a report cited by Reuters, floods and landslides in 2025 resulted in the death of at least 58 critically endangered Tapanuli orangutans in the western block of Batang Toru forest in Sumatra, accounting for at least 7% of the estimated wild population of around 800 individuals.
Dr. Birute Mary Galdicas, a pioneer in orangutan research and conservation, passed away on March 24, 2026, at the age of 79. After more than fifty years of work, she left a significant legacy through the Orangutan Foundation International, which she co-founded with colleagues in 1986 and which continues to conduct research, rehabilitation, and conservation.
Ultimately, protecting orangutans means protecting the tropical forests they share space with countless other species.