A new study in Sumatra has put the orangutan population at two times higher than the count shown earlier and the research team noted that the species is still under serious threat. Even as dark clouds of deforestation and hunting continue to daunt orangutans and damage the Indonesian island’s biodiversity, researchers have urged the authorities to take action in time.

Researchers, who arrived at the double-population conclusion after conducting a survey of the orangutans’ nests, say the last estimates could have gone wrong mainly because many orangutans may have been nesting at heights previously considered to be out of their range.

Published in the journal Science Advances, the survey has put the population of the apes on the island at around 14,600, which is more than double the earlier estimate of 6,600. Apart from this, the orangutans that were found to be nesting in logged locations and in areas to the west of Toba Lake were not included in previous studies.

Though the survey may have shown that Sumatra has more orangutans than previously estimated, researchers say the population of the apes may shoot downwards if deforestation is not controlled in time.

One of the study's authors, Serge Wich from Liverpool John Moores University, says it was a thrill to find out that the Sumatran orangutan population is quite higher than documented before. But he also pointed out that it did not mean no efforts should be put in to conserve the apes.

"Numerous development projects are planned in the area that - if they are not stopped - could sharply reduce the number of orangutans over the coming years. We will need to continue working with the Indonesian government and other concerned groups for the conservation of the species and prevent population decline from happening”, says Wich.

Study authors say it indeed is a difficult task, but they are hopeful that they can turn the tide for the Sumatran orangutan.