Orangutan

Orang-utan

The Orangutan is the ultimate wildlife emblem of Southeast Asia´s jungles. It is only great apes found outside Africa. 

Both sexes have long reddish-orange hair. Colour differs between individuals and changes with age: Juveniles may be bright orange, while some old animals are dark chocolate-brown. The face is always bare and paler in younger animals. Adult males have throat sacs, which amplify their calls, and fatty cheek pads which turn out to be a fleshy facial disc in mature animals. These are more found on Borean Orang-utans. 

The Orang-utan is the biggest tree dwelling animal, because of its forearms that are 30% longer than its legs. And both its hands and feets are equally adept for gripping. Orang-utans cannot jump, but instead span graps by swinging a tree back and forth until they can reach adjacent branches. 

Where to see it: 

 Threats

Orangutan is endangered because of habitat loss. It continues today as logging and conversion to agriculture, in particular oil palm plantations, gathers pace. At this rate Orangutans may become extinct in the wild within the next 10-20 years. They are also used in illegal pet trade, with as many as three adults killed for each one that is successfully captured. Their low reproductive rates leaves orang-utans especially vulnerable to all such threats.

 This is a Borean Orangutan.

 Sumatran Orang-utan

Borean Orang-utan