Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) lives in tropical Rainforest across Southeast Asian Islands. It feeds on fruit and leaves. Its conservation status is Critically Endangered.
Fascinating facts about the Orangutan
- Their arms can stretch up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in), Males average 75 kg (165 lb) and can reach 1.7 m in length, while females average 38.5 kg (85 lb) and up to 1.2 m long. In captivity some males balloon to over 165 kg, with the heaviest recorded at 204 kg (450 lb) in 1959. The Bornean orangutan is the largest truly arboreal ape.
- Only about 104,700 individuals remain in the wild, a fraction of their historic numbers. The IUCN lists them as Critically Endangered, and recent surveys show the species now numbers less than 14 % of its historic population from the last 10,000 years. This steep decline, driven by logging, palm-oil expansion and hunting, means every lost forest patch pushes the species closer to extinction, underscoring the urgency of protecting remaining habitats.
- In 2026 fires scorched roughly 9,055 ha (22,000 ac) of Gunung Palung National Park, about half the size of Washington, DC. Researchers saw flames come within 200 m (656 ft) of a long-term study station, forcing five known individuals to flee mere meters from the blaze. Such rapid habitat loss not only threatens lives but also endangers decades of unique behavioral data collected there.
- They build elaborate nests from intertwined leaves and branches, adding a "pillow" and "blanket" for comfort, a behavior classified as tool use. Young orangutans learn this by watching their mothers, and juveniles practice the skill themselves. The nests serve as sleeping platforms up to 60 ft off the ground, protecting them from weather.
- Genetic studies show Bornean orangutans split from their Tapanuli cousins about 674,000 years ago and from Sumatran orangutans roughly 400,000 years ago, yet low gene flow has continued since. This relatively recent divergence explains why the two species share many cultural traditions, while they have distinct physical traits like larger body size and thicker coats in Borneans.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeSoutheast Asian Islands
HabitatTropical Rainforest
DietFruit and leaves
About the Orangutan
Deep within the lush canopies of Borneo's rainforests, the orangutan reigns as a majestic, introspective monarch, its deliberate movements a testament to a life lived in harmony with the gentle sway of the trees. As it navigates the forest's intricate network of branches and vines, the orangutan's incredibly dexterous hands weave a subtle spell of balance and poise, a remarkable fusion of strength and agility that has captivated the hearts of all who have witnessed it. With each deliberate step, the orangutan embodies a profound connection to its vanishing world, a world that hangs precariously in the balance.
Hear the Orangutan, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
