Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii)

The Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) is one of the world's rarest great apes, with only about 14,000 remaining in the wild. Endemic to Sumatra's rainforests, these intelligent primates face critical endangerment due to deforestation, palm oil plantations, and illegal wildlife trade. Distinguished by their lighter red fur and longer facial hair than Bornean cousins, they're the most arboreal great apes, spending nearly all their time in trees. Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection and rehabilitation, but with females reproducing only once every 8-9 years, each individual's survival is crucial for preserving this keystone species.