IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), Primate Specialist Group, Section on Great Apes (SGA)

Since publication of the 2015 Great Ape Health Guidelines, great ape tourism has continued to gain in popularity, and landscape conversion continues on a steep trajectory. In addition, there has been a tremendous amount of new scientific research on pathogens that infect wild great apes. Furthermore, the world experienced epidemics of Ebola (in West Africa from 2014–2016 and in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from 2018–2020) and the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2023).

Determining whether wild-to-wild translocation is an appropriate action requires sound assessment of an individual orangutan’s characteristics, the circumstances surrounding its detection, and in-depth analysis to identify suitable release habitats. This guidance document follows the precautionary principle in prioritising the in situ protection of wild orangutans and their forest habitats, whether large tracts or small fragments.

Since publication of the 2015 Great Ape Health Guidelines, great ape tourism has continued to gain in popularity, and landscape conversion continues on a steep trajectory. In addition, there has been a tremendous amount of new scientific research on pathogens that infect wild great apes. Furthermore, the world experienced epidemics of Ebola (in West Africa from 2014–2016 and in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from 2018–2020) and the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2023).