'Orang' and 'utan' are the Malay words meaning 'person' and 'forest'; the orangutan is literally a 'person of the forest'.

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Overview

OrangutanOrder: Primates

Family: Hominidae

Species: Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii), Tapanuli Orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis)

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Population Trend: decreasing

Orangutan: 
Bornean - Pongo pygmaeus
Sumatran - Pongo abelii

Distribution: restricted to the islands of Borneo, Malaysia and Sumatra, Indonesia.

Habitat: dense tropical rainforest.

Description: heavy, rather human-like body. Very long arms, grasping hands and feet. Dark grey skin and reddish hair.
           
Population and IUCN Red List Status:
Bornean - 45,000-69,000 - Endangered
Sumatran - 7,300- Critically Endangered

Size: Height: males 1.4 m, females 1.15 m.

Weight: males 90-120 kg, females 40-50 kg.

Life-span: estimated average of 35 years. 50 years or more in captivity.

Food: tropical fruits, leaves, shoots, bark, insects and eggs.

 

Read More: Introduction

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