Orangutans

About Orangutans

• The orangutan is Asia’s only great ape.
• The name orangutan means “man of the forest” in the Malay language.
• Habitat: They live exclusively in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asian islands.
• Distribution: They are only found exclusively on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.
• Species: There are three orangutan species:
  • Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)
  • Sumatran orangutan(Pongo abelii)
  • Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis)

Different Species of Orangutan Bornean orangutan: They are found across Borneo. They are the most numerous of the three species but are on decline. Sumatran orangutan: They are restricted to northern Sumatra. They are among the rarest great apes on the planet. Tapanuli orangutan: They are found on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. They are identified only in 2017. Fewer than 800 individuals remain in forest patch.

• Characteristics:
  • They are larger than chimpanzees but are not as powerfully built as gorillas.
    • Adult male orangutans are typically twice the size of females.
  • Distinguish feature: Their skin is usually dark tan or brownish and is covered with coarse, sparse reddish-brown hair.
    • Older males develop wide cheek pads, which are a distinctive feature among primates.
    • Male orangutans can have very long hair that may look like a cape when they move their arms.
  • Behaviour:
    • They are arboreal and are largest tree-dwelling mammal species on Earth.
    • They are highly intelligent species and are known for tool use, problem-solving, and complex social learning.
    •  They make nests in trees or vegetation to sleep at night and rest during the day.
    • They live an average of up to 40 years in the wild while they can reach up to over 50 to 55 years in captivity.
  • Diet: They feast on wild fruits like lychees, mangosteens, and figs, and slurp water from holes in trees.
• Threat: Habitat loss, poaching, and illegal trafficking have been threat to the species.
• Conservation status: All three species classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.