A powerful cyclone, Senyar, has caused significant devastation to the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan population in Sumatra. At least 58 individuals of this rare species, *Pongo tapanuliensis*, have been confirmed dead. The orangutans perished due to landslides triggered by the cyclone, succumbing to crushing injuries, suffocation, or drowning. This represents approximately 7% of the entire known population of Tapanuli orangutans, raising serious concerns about the species’ long-term survival. Conservationists are assessing the full extent of the damage and working to protect the remaining individuals. The Tapanuli orangutan is already one of the most endangered great ape species globally, with fewer than 800 individuals remaining in the wild. This event underscores the vulnerability of the species to natural disasters and habitat loss.