Facts About Us...

Where are orangutans found?

Orangutans are found in Indonesia and Malaysia on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.*

How many species of orangutan are there?

There are two species of orangutan - the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) and the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus).*

Are orangutans monkeys or apes?

Orangutans are a species of great ape along with gorillas and chimpanzees. 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.*

How long do orangutans live?

In the wild, orangutans may live up to 45 years or more! The longest living female orangutan in captivity was a female called 'Nonja' who lived until age 59! The longest living male orangutan in captivity was called 'Guas' who lived until he was 58!*

What does the word 'orangutan' mean?

Orangutan means 'person of the forest'. It comes from the Malay words 'orang' meaning people and 'hutan' meaning forest.*

Why do our Orang-u-tangys not contain Palm Oil?

Palm oil is found in many products in your local supermarket and as a result of harvesting (amongst other things like illegal logging), vast areas of our rainforests in South East Asia are being destroyed to make way for palm oil plantations and it's threatening our survival. If more people stopped eating foods with palm oil and companies stopped using so much, our beautiful jungle would be protected and we would be safe from harm.

Some other facts about us...

• Under IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) listings, our Sumatran orangutan cousins are classified as critically endangered. In Borneo we're endangered.
• While rainforests are being destroyed by timber logging for palm oil plantations, we are losing our habitat through farming, illegal logging, mining and forest fires.
• We sleep in trees and are experts in constructing nests.
• Unlike chimpanzees and gorillas, we don't live in large social groups. Adult males are usually found alone and adult females are generally accompanied by one or two of their infants.

Why Save Us?

• We are intelligent beings who as individuals, display unique and rich personalities.
• On average female orangutans reproduce once every seven years – a female will usually have no more than three offspring so this

Why Save our Rainforests?

• We have lost 80% of our habitat in the last 20 years.
• According to the World Bank, at the current rate of deforestation, by 2010 there may be no lowland forest left outside of protected areas in Kalimantan.
• Without tropical rainforests, orangutans and other species cannot survive.
• Unless saved, as many as a third of the earth's plant and animal species could vanish.
• Tropical rainforests help regulate global climate and weather conditions, and protect fragile soils and watersheds which help prevent against flooding.

* Information kindly provided by The Orangutan Foundation