Orangutan

Critically Endangered

Pongo abelil

Size: Males - 40 inches head and body, 110 - 198 pounds; Females - 30 inches head and body, 66 - 110 pounds

Lifespan: 59 years in zoos

Range/Habitat: Northern Sumatra and parts of Borneo in rainforests and wetlands.

Orangutans are the most solitary of the great apes. Researchers have described orangutans as aloof, intelligent problem solvers. They appear to sit in disinterest when given a problem or when sitting in the canopy in the wild, then after sitting for a little while, they will quickly solve the problem or move for food and then slowly move on again. The San Diego Zoo’s orangutan, Ken Allen was famous for finding new ways to escape. He would unscrew bolts, reach around barriers to unlatch doors, and climb walls to get out. Once he even tried to go through the acrylic pane of his habitat, shattering a 3/4 inch thick pane of acrylic glass. Every time his keepers sealed up his previous exit, he found a new way out, giving more evidence for the highly intelligent nature of apes.

Conservation Concerns:

Orangutans in Sumatra are critically endangered, while the Bornean subspecies is classified as endangered. They are threatened by a loss of habitat from agriculture and logging, in fact nearly 80% of the orangutan’s natural habitat has been lost due to deforestation for one reason or another. They are also hunted as they are an easy catch, and young are frequently sold in the illegal pet trade. There are orangutan organizations in Sumatra and Borneo that work to take in orphaned orangutans and raise them in reserves to help preserve the population. There are also attempts to educate locals and loggers about protection needs and a crackdown on poaching enforcement.