Wildlife experts are worried after Cyclone Senyar devastated north Sumatra on November 25. The rarest ape, the Tapanuli orangutan, has not been seen since the floods and landslides hit their forest home in Batang Toru. Fewer than 800 of these orangutans exist. A carcass found in mud and debris in Pulo Pakkat village is believed to be one of these apes. Deckey Chandra, working with humanitarian teams, said, "When I first saw it I was not sure what it was, because it was kind of defaced, perhaps because it was buried underneath by the sludge and logs." Conservationists fear this loss is a blow to the population. Satellite images analyzed by Professor Erik Meijaard show that about 7,200 hectares of orangutan habitat were destroyed by landslides. He estimated this area could have held 35 orangutans. "It wouldn't surprise us if they are all dead," he said. Flash floods and landslides wiped out many patches of primary forest, leaving bare soil where forest once stood. Panut Hadisiswoyo, founder of Orangutan Information Centre, stated the carcass suggests some Tapanuli orangutans could not escape the disaster. Other endangered species like Sumatran elephants were also hit hard. Locals suggest orangutans might escape danger, but expert Serge Wich said, "During heavy rains orangutans either just sit in a tree or gather branches and leaves to use as an umbrella and then wait for the rain to stop." This time the landslides struck before the rain ended. Floods also severely damaged orangutan research centers including Ketambe, Indonesia's first such center. Dr Ian Singleton said, "The Ketambe centre is now almost completely destroyed. It needs to be rebuilt as soon as possible so it can continue to play that role in protecting the forests in that area and its orangutans." The future of the rare orangutans in Sumatra now hangs in balance after this natural disaster.