These fuzzy-haired orangutans are the latest species to join the great ape family.<br /><br />The primates on Samatra island in Indonesia are the first to be discovered by scientists in nearly 90 years. <br /><br />But the newly found species, which researchers named Pongo tapanuliensis is already at risk of becoming extinct. <br /><br />Fewer than 800 orangutans are thought to exist across a 1,000 km squared area, making it the most endangered great ape species.<br /><br />The apes are struggling to compete against shrinking forests and threats of hunting.<br /><br />Ian Singleton, the director of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme, said: “There’s always threats of new road and things which will fragment populations and render a potentially population into two potentially extinct ones. In the Batang Toru (area) the sad thing is, or the challenge is that there is major hydro-electric programme planned in the valley of Batang Toru river, which actually has the highest density of Orangutans in their entire habitat block.”<br /><br />The species was first identified after scientists found it had a smaller skull.<br /><br />The primates are also differentiated by their long booming calls and cinnamon-coloured frizzy hair.<br /><br />Experts say the discovery highlights the importance of conservation – and that there might even be further species of ape to be discovered.<br />
