Intro
The orangutans are two species of great apes known for their intelligence, long arms and reddish-brown hair. Native to Indonesia and Malaysia, they are currently found only in rainforests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.
Their name derives from the Malay and Indonesian phrase orang hutan, meaning "person of the forest".Orang Utans have long fascinated mankind. Known scientificcally as Pongo Pygmaeus, they have been found to be 96.4% similar to our human genes.
Orangutans spending nearly all of their time in the trees. Every night they fashion nests, in which they sleep, from branches and foliage. They are more solitary than the other apes, with males and females generally coming together only to mate.
Females can grow to around 4 ft 2 in or 127 centimetres and weigh around 100 lbs or 45 kg, while fully mature males can reach 5 ft 9 in or 175 centimetres in height and weigh over 260 lbs or 118 kg. Fully mature males can be distinguished by their prominent cheek flanges and longer hair.
Endangered Species
The Bornean species of orangutans is highly endangered, and the Sumatran species is critically endangered,according to the IUCN Red List of mammals. The Borneo population is estimated at about 55,000 in the wild, while the Sumatran species is estimated at 7000 individuals.
Conservation Center
Indonesia
- Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan
- Kutai in East Kalimantan
- Gunung Palung National Park in West Kalimantan
- Bukit Lawang in the Gunung Leuser National Park (on the border of Aceh) North Sumatra
Malaysia
- Semenggoh Wildlife Centre in Sarawak
- Matang Wildlife Centre also in Sarawak
- Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary near Sandakan in Sabah.
Gentle and shy by nature, sightings of orang utan in the wild are rare. However, one place you are guaranteed of seeing them is at the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center
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