Flash floods at Sepilok

The floods also highlight a broader issue of climate change, which threatens the critically endangered species.

Storms are often accompanied by powerful winds that can topple trees and heavy rainfall, leading to floods which can spread disease into rainforest areas, further harming areas of orangutan habitat.

In the past, the rainforests have suffered higher temperatures and more extreme dry conditions enabling fires to spread more easily.

Climate change intensifies these extreme weather events like storms and forest fires. By altering their habitats and access to food sources, it makes it even harder for orangutans to survive in the wild.