World First: Sumatran Orangutan Uses Canopy Bridge to Overcome Forest Fragmentation

This is it. The moment we have been patiently waiting for since SOS and TaHuKah first began our canopy bridge project in West Toba over two years ago.

A young male Sumatran orangutan has used our canopy bridge to cross over the road and reach a new area of rainforest!

He confidently strolls across the bridge, pausing to take in the view. Then, with one final glance back at his home behind him, crosses over the road.

This is a world-first for Sumatran orangutans.

This truly is the best video you’ll see all day — all year maybe!

This landmark moment, recorded on a camera trap in the Pakpak Bharat district of North Sumatra, is a world-first for the species. While other primates, including gibbons, langurs, and macaques, have previously been observed using the canopy bridges to cross the public road, this event confirms that critically endangered Sumatran orangutans can and will use canopy bridges to overcome forest fragmentation.

This is conservation in action – and it’s with thanks to the support of our generous donors. So, on behalf of the teams at SOS and TaHuKah, and the wildlife you’ve helped protect, thank you.

SOS and TaHuKah worked with government partners (North Sumatra Conservation Agency and North Sumatra Provincial Environment and Forestry Service). Thank you to the Pakpak Bharat District Government.  Thank you to all of our wonderful donors, including Size of Wales, IUCN Asian Species Action Partnership, European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA)  and DierenPark Amersfoort Wildlife Fund.