Orangutans

Meet the red "People of the forest"

Common Name		Orangutans; Orangoutans (Fr); Orangutáns (Sp)
Scientific Name		Pongo spp
Habitat		Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Status		IUCN: Endangered (Pongo pygmaeus) to Critically Endangered (Pongo abelii)
Population		Central Bornean approx. 38,000 North West Bornean approx. 3,000 Sumatra approx. 7,500

Background

This information has been reviewed.

The lowland forest habitats of this red "man of the forest" are fast disappearing under the chainsaw, or being burned deliberately to make way for agriculture and oil palm plantations. Unless these unique great apes are conserved in well-managed, secure protected areas, and in wider forest landscapes connected by corridors, they may well be facing extinction in the wild.

WWF is working with its partners to secure a future for the orangutan. This will require a broad based approach, not only by providing protection for orangutan populations, but also by fighting to prevent destruction of the species' forest habitat. Action is also needed to stamp out a widespread trade in orangutans as pets. WWF is currently producing an Action Plan to define and prioritise its work on orangutans for the next 10 years.

Physical Description

There are two orangutan species:

• Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii)
• Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)

orangutans are the largest tree-climbing mammal and the only great ape found in Asia.

They have a characteristic ape-like shape, shaggy reddish fur and grasping hands and feet, with very long arms that may reach 2 m in length. Legs are relatively short and weak, but the hands and arms are powerful. Adult males are distinguished by their large size, throat pouch and cheek pads on either side of the face.

Orangutans travel about by moving from one tree to another, avoiding climbing down to the ground. The species moves on "all fours", with the clenched fist placed on the ground. At night they make a nest of vegetation to sleep in, with smaller ones made during the day to rest.

Size
Body length is about 1.25-1.5 m. Adults weigh 30 to 50 kg for females and 50-90 kg for males.

Colour
The fur is reddish brown in colour.

Habitat

Major habitat type
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests

Biogeographic realm
Indo-Malayan

Range States
Indonesia, Malaysia

Ecological Region
Borneo Lowland and Montane Forests, Kinabalu Montane Shrublands, Sundaland Rivers and Swamps

Interesting Facts

Some captive released individuals learned independently to untie complex knots that secured boats and rafts, and then to shove off, board, and ride the vessels across rivers.

Wild orangutans have also been observed making tools to scratch themselves, using leafy branches to shelter under, and using branches for foraging, honey collection etc. Released captive individuals are reported to use sticks for digging, fighting, prying, eating, scratching, and many other purposes.