Right to Reply to Tempo on saving the Tapanuli orangutan, the world’s rarest great ape

Mighty Earth argues that the Batang Toru hydropower plant and the potential expansion of the Martabe gold mine threaten the Tapanuli orangutan, the world's rarest great ape. The organization denies claims that it offered financing schemes or has a business interest in the region, asserting its role as an independent NGO advocating for a moratorium on projects impacting the species and the implementation of a comprehensive conservation and restoration plan.

• The Tapanuli orangutan is the most endangered great ape species globally, with fewer than 800 individuals remaining in the Batang Toru ecosystem of North Sumatra.
• Mighty Earth opposes the Batang Toru dam because it is located in an area with high Tapanuli orangutan density and would further divide three sub-populations. The organization also claims the dam is unnecessary as a study indicated the local electricity supply is already sufficient.
• The Batang Toru dam project has been associated with safety risks for workers and community members, with landslides and explosions resulting in seventeen deaths.
• The potential expansion of the Martabe gold mine into Tapanuli habitat is identified as a second major threat to the ecosystem; Mighty Earth has advocated for a pause in expansion until scientific assessments are completed.
• Mighty Earth denies allegations that it offered a "syndicated loan funding scheme" or has business interests in the region, stating it is an independent non-profit that does not offer financing or accept donations from businesses involved in its focus issues.

APA

Hurowitz, G. (2023). Right to Reply to Tempo on saving the Tapanuli orangutan, the world’s rarest great ape. Mighty Earth. https://mightyearth.org/article/letter-to-tempo-on-saving-worlds-rarest-ape-2/

Chicago

Hurowitz, Glenn. Right to Reply to Tempo on saving the Tapanuli orangutan, the world’s rarest great ape. Mighty Earth, 2023. https://mightyearth.org/article/letter-to-tempo-on-saving-worlds-rarest-ape-2/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Hurowitz |first1=Glenn |title=Right to Reply to Tempo on saving the Tapanuli orangutan, the world’s rarest great ape |publisher=Mighty Earth |date=17 July 2023 |url=https://mightyearth.org/article/letter-to-tempo-on-saving-worlds-rarest-ape-2/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{hurowitz2023right, author = {Hurowitz, Glenn}, title = {{Right to Reply to Tempo on saving the Tapanuli orangutan, the world’s rarest great ape}}, publisher = {Mighty Earth}, year = {2023}, month = jul, url = {https://mightyearth.org/article/letter-to-tempo-on-saving-worlds-rarest-ape-2/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }