It is estimated that fewer than 60,000 orangutans remain in the wild and the trend is declining. Species distribution is now highly patchy throughout the island. The Bornean orangutan is a fully protected species in both Malaysia and Indonesia.

The Bornean orangutan is native to the island of Borneo where it is present in the two Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as in three of the four Indonesian Provinces of Kalimantan. Reclassified as critically endangered 2016 Most infants suffer traumatic injuries and extreme distress when they are removed from their mothers. Infants remain with their mothers until around 8 years of age.Īs mothers will not let go of their infants, they are often killed so that their young can be captured for illegal pet trade. Female Bornean orangutans reach maturity between 10 and 15 years old and reproduce every six to eight years on average. To initiate this process, males send out a “Long Call,” which can be heard up to 3 km away.įemales will only be receptive to mating if the male has developed cheekpads, which usually occurs when the male reaches his 20s.įemales generally give birth to a single infant after a gestation period of approximately 245 days.

Male Bornean orangutans are largely solitary, only socializing temporarily with females during the mating process. Flanged males have prominent cheek pads called flanges and a throat sac used to make loud verbal long calls. There are two different types of adult male orangutan: flanged and unflanged. There are two species of orangutan, the Bornean and Sumatran, which differ a little in appearance and behavior. They are key to forest regeneration by dispersing seeds from fruit onto the forest floor. Orangutans make a nest to sleep in at night, and rest in smaller nests during the day. Orangutans can live up to 50 years in the wild. Their powerful arms are stronger and longer than their legs and can reach 2m in length, long enough to touch their ankles when they stand. Orangutans have a characteristic ape-like shape, shaggy reddish fur and grasping hands and feet for climbing.

Javan elephant outline