20 Orangutan Facts
20 Orangutan Facts
#2. There are two species of orangutan -the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) and the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus).
#3. Orangutans are a species of great ape along with gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos.The great apes are a group of mammals that all have large brains, forward-facing eyes and gripping hands.Humans are also great apes.In fact we share 96.4% of our genetic makeup with orangutans! Apes and monkeys are both primates.The easiest way to distinguish between monkeys and apes is to look for a tail.Apes don’t have tails where as most monkey species do.
#4. In the wild, orangutans may live up to 45 years or more. The oldest captive orangutan was a male called “Guas” at the Philadelphia Zoo who lived until he was 58!
#5. Orangutan means ‘person of the forest’. It comes from the Malay words ‘orang’ meaning people and ‘hutan’ meaning forest.
#6. Arboreal means tree-living. The orangutan is the largest arboreal animal in the world and is well adapted for life in the trees. The orangutan can grasp branches with both its hands and feet and has very mobile shoulder and hip joints. Both these features help the orangutan to travel through the forest canopy. Orangutans make and sleep in a new nest every night.
#7. Unlike gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos, orangutans do not live in large social or family groups. They are semi-solitary animals. Adult males are usually found alone and adult females are usually accompanied by one or two offspring.
#8. Orangutans are what we call ‘sexually dimorphic’ – that is there are visible differences between males and females. Adult males can reach 1.5m in height and weigh as much as 120kg. Females are much smaller. They grow up to 1m tall and weigh about 45kg. Male orangutans develop large cheek pads and a throat pouch when mature. The male inflates his throat pouch to make a loud sound called a “long call” which alerts other orangutans to his presence and attract females.
#9. Orangutans are principally frugivorous (fruit eating). Ninety per cent of their diet consists of fruit but orangutans also eat nectar, honey, bark, leaves, insects and fungi. An orangutans’ favourite fruit is the durian.Durians are renowned for their horrible smell but orangutans love them. Orangutans will occasionally supplement their diet with eggs and small vertebrates.
#10. Female orangutans have their first baby at about 14-15 years old. Pregnancy lasts for 8½ months. Young orangutans have a lot to learn to survive in the forest and will stay with their mother until they are about 7 or 8 years old. This period of dependency is longer than any other primate apart from humans. Female orangutans only have one baby approximately every 8 years and will have 3 or 4 young in their lifetime.
#11. Orangutans are occasionally killed or injured by plantation owners and farmers who consider orangutans to be pests. If a female orangutan is found with an infant, the mother may be killed and the infant sold into the illegal pet trade. Rehabilitation centres are set up to treat and care for sick, injured or orphaned orangutans with the ultimate aim of returning them back to the wild.
#12. When extended, orangutans’ arms are longer than their bodies - over 2m from fingertip to fingertip!
#13. Orangutans cover their heads with large leaves to shelter from the rain!
#14. When orangutans are annoyed they will smack their lips together to produce a sound called a 'kiss squeak'!
#15. Orangutans have large throat (laryngeal) sacs. The sac is most well-developed in males and gives resonance to their long calls.
#16. Adult female and male orangutans differ greatly in appearance. Female orangutans are about half the size of adult males. Dominant male orangutans develop large cheek pads or flanges. The cheek pads are composed primarily of deposits of subcutaneous fat.
#17. The hands and feet of orangutans are well adapted for hanging from tree limbs. Their big toes, as well as their thumbs, are opposable. Their arms are 1½ times longer than their legs and are very powerful.
#18. Orangutans have 32 teeth, the same number as humans.
#19. Orangutans have been taught American Sign Language. One orangutan learned 150 signs.
#20. Orangutans have at least 18 vocalizations. Males give “long call’ vocalizations.The exact function of these calls is unknown.They may serve to attract mates, announce the presence and location of a high-ranking male, or may express discontent on the part of the utterer.
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