Bornean Orangutan facts | WHY ORANGUTANS MATTER

Orangutan

The orangutans are the world’s largest tree-climbing or arboreal mammals. Orangutan means ‘person of the forest’ in the Malay language. They live in primary and secondary forests. Most of them are found in lowland areas and prefer forests in river valleys or floodplains.  They have a characteristic of ape-like shape, shaggy reddish fur and grasping hands and feet. Their powerful arms are stronger and longer then their legs and can reach 2 meter in length. The skin of face is bare and black, but can be pinkish around the eyes and muzzle in younger individual orangutan. Male orangutans can tip the scales at 90 kilograms, while female orangutans weigh between 30-50 kilograms. They can live up to 50 years in the wild. Female orangutans can first reproduce between 10-15 years of age. They can give birth at most once every five years, and the interval between babies can be as long as 10 years.

The orangutan diet is composed of over 400 types of food, including wild figs, leaves, seeds, durians, bird eggs, flowers, honey, insects, and bark. They have also been known to consume the inner shoots of plants and vines.  They obtain water not only from fruit, but also from tree holes.

Orangutans live in Indonesia and Malaysia on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. These are the only places where they live in the wild. There are two species of orangutan- the Bornean and Sumatran orangutan-which differ a little in appearance and behaviour, while both species have shaggy reddish fur, Sumatran orangutans have longer facial hair. Sumatran orangutans are also reported to have closer social bonds than their Bornean orangutans. The orangutan is the only ape that inhabits Asia. Sumatran orangutans are present in Indonesia whereas Bornean orangutans are present in both Malaysia and Indonesia.

POPULATION

Both species have experienced sharp population declines. A century ago there were probably more than 230,000 orangutans in total, but the Bornean orangutan is now estimated to number about 45,000-69,000 (Endangered) and the Sumatran about 7,500 (Critically Endangered). The numbers of the Bornean orangutan in the wild are in decline; they fell by 60 percent in the 60 years since 1950, and IUCN predicts a further 22 percent decline from 2010 to 2025. The organization said the “sharp decline” is chiefly attributable to “destruction, degradation and fragmentation of their habitats, and hunting.” IUCN estimates between 2,000 and 3,000 of Borneo’s orangutans have been killed every year for the past four decades, mainly for their meat. “If hunting does not stop, all populations that are hunted will decline, irrespective of what happens to their habitat,” IUCN said. “These findings confirm that habitat protection alone will not ensure the survival of orangutans.”

REASONS OF DECLINE POPULATION

The two major reasons why Orangutans populations are in sharp decline are

(1) Destruction, degradation and fragmentation of their habitats, and

(2) Hunting.

(3) Due to human industry

Palm oil production plays the biggest hand in the disappearance of the orangutan, as it is literally eating up the rain forests of Borneo & Sumatra. Sadly, deforestation for palm oil production and illegal logging operations has led to the loss of 90 percent of this precious orangutan habitat.

ORANGUTANS AND HUMANS

Orangutans and humans share approximately 97 percent of their DNA make-up. They are a highly intelligent species, one of the smartest among primates. A study conducted by the Leipzig Zoo in Germany in 2008 showed orangutans were capable of analyzing the benefits and costs of exchanging gifts, and also of keeping track of them over time, making them the first non-human species that has been observed doing so. They can also use tools and use a variety of sounds to communicate. Like humans, orangutans have opposite thumbs. Their big toes are also opposite. Unlike humans, approximately one third of all orangutan don’t nails on their big toes.

WHY ORANGUTANS MATTER

Orang-utans are known as gardeners of the forest. They play a vital role in seed dispersal and in maintaining the health of the forest ecosystem, which is important for people and a host of other animals, including tigers, Asian elephants and Sumatran rhinos. So by conserving the orangutan’s habitat, we’re also benefiting local communities and other species.

CONSERVATION CENTER AND ORGANISATION

A number of organisations are working for the rescue, reintroduction and rehabilitation of orangutans. The largest of these is the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, founded by conservationist Willie Smits. Other major conservation center are-orangutan conservancy, Orangutan Outreach, Sumatran Orangutan Conservation program.

To increase the population of orangutan, we have to save the trees, and avoid deforestation. We can help by donating also. 

"DOWN WITH DEFORESTATION"