The group assume that, because of the remote area, there were possible discoveries to be made. Unlike most orangutan habitats, it had been protected from destruction, for resources such as palm oil, found in cosmetics and similar products.

And they were right. The conservationists counted 219 nests, significantly adding to the number of the animals that are thought to have remained.

These nests, researchers estimate, increase the total amount of orangutans to potential thousands. Erik Meijaard, a senior ecologist with the Nature Conservancy, calls the findings “significant”, paving the way for enhanced protection. “The immediate steps include going back to the area to see how far the population ranges and to put better protection in place,” Meijaard told CNN.

These new findings could increase the number of orangutans (previously at approximately 50, 000) by five percent. And because of the region they were found, Meijaard pointed out that the locals are interested in keeping the area as is. “For orangutans,” he noted,  “we have a real chance to protect and save this species—and we need make it happen now.”
Sources: CNN and National Geographic.

Image courtesy of JeanKern at Flickr.