International Orangutan Day 2024: 11 Fun Facts Facts About Orangutans

Every year on August 19, the world celebrates International Orangutan Day. There’s no better time to celebrate all things related to the tree-dwelling animal. Here are some fun facts about orangutans you might not know about. 

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11 Fun Facts About Orangutans

1. There are three species of orangutans

Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli are all species of orangutans. Easily identifiable by their reddish, ginger-tinted fur, the three orangutans species have many similarities including the presence of beards and moustaches in adult males – and for some adult females. However, Bornean orangutans tend to have darker and redder coats and rounder faces. 

2. Orangutans can live up to 60 years

Most orangutans in the wild live up to 30-40 years but some have been recorded to reach the age of 50 years or, in some rare cases, more. The animal also significantly differs in sizes between males and females. Male orangutans can often weigh more than 90 kilograms (198 pounds), whereas females are a third or half their sizes. 

3. Orangutans are the largest tree-dwelling mammals

Orangutans are large apes that share nearly 97% of the same DNA as humans, making them one of our closest relatives. The word “orang-hutan” literally translates into English as “person of the forest.” They also spend 80% of their time in the tree, from climbing, travelling and building sleeping nests in trees. 

4. Orangutans have signature long arms

Orangutans have an average height of about 1.5 meters (4.9 feet). One of the most interesting facts about orangutans is that they have disproportionately long arms that can span up to 2.2 meters (7.2 feet). Their arms tend to be one and a half times longer than their legs, and can be stretched to their ankles when standing. The orangutan uses its long arms to form a secure hook that allows them to travel from tree to tree. Despite spending most of their time in trees, orangutans are semi-terrestrial and walk on all fours when travelling on the ground. 

5. Some male orangutans develop large cheek pads on their faces

Not all, but some male orangutans develop large cheek pads, also known as flanges, on the side of their faces. They’re essentially fatty tissues which are developed when the males are fully matured, at around 35 years old. Apparently, many female orangutans find these flanges to be attractive and take them into consideration when they’re choosing a mate. Males also have a throat sac, which they use to vocalise, locate and advertise their presence to females or warn other males away.

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6. Orangutans are astonishingly intelligent animals

Extensive research and laboratory tests in the last few decades have revealed that orangutans are a highly intelligent species for their ability to use a variety of sophisticated tools and build elaborate sleeping nests from branches and foliage. Orangutans have been named the world’s most intelligent animals in a study that places them even above chimpanzees and gorillas.

7. Orangutans have incredibly close bonds with their mothers

While most mammals tend to stay close to their mothers during the early stages of their lives, orangutans stick to their mothers for much longer, most at least until the age of seven. Young orangutans will ride on their mothers’s body when they’re travelling and sleep in their nests. During this period, they will absorb all the knowledge Mum has to share including food hunting and how to use tools. 

8. Orangutans have opposable thumbs and toes 

Much like us humans, the great ape’s opposable thumbs and big toes come in handy when they’re hunting for food, and have often been known to make use of tools such as sticks and branches to reach termites and ants out of small spaces. Orangutans eat more than 300 different kinds of fruits, and they’ve learned to use leaves to form a protective glove when handling pricklier fruits. 

9. Orangutans are critically endangered 

All three species of orangutans are currently considered to be “critically endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). There are fewer than 70,000 Bornean, 14,000 Sumatran and 800 Tapanuli orangutans left in the wild. As they’re only found in swamp forests of Borneo and Sumatra, the species is incredibly vulnerable due to increasing harmful human activities. 

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10. Deforestation is the largest threat to orangutans

Commercial agriculture such as palm oil, urbanisation, infrastructure and increased land uses have been the biggest drivers of deforestation in the last few decades. Borneo alone is projected to lose about 220,000 km sq of forest between 2010 and 2030, approximately 30% of its total land area. However, the countries of Indonesia and Malaysia have made significant efforts to limit deforestation, and rates of its forest loss have been slowing down. That being, as the effects of climate change worsens, risks of wildfires increases, which poses significant impacts to orangutan habitats. 

11. Orangutans are victims of wildlife trade and tourism

Orangutans have been victims of illegal wildlife trading across the world and a significant amount of the population have been exploited for entertainment as part of wildlife tourism. For example, in Thailand, orangutans have been forced to perform in mock boxing matches, as documented by award-winning photographer Aaron Gekoski, as well as take part in circus-style shows for tourists. 

This article was first published on August 19, 2022.