Orang Utan

Pongo Pygmaeus

Once found throughout Southeast Asia, this species of ape now survives only in small populations across the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The Orang utan is the largest tree dwelling mammal.

A dominant male ranges over a large territory mating with several females who give birth to a single offspring, weighting about 4 lbs every three to six years. The gestation period for the orang utan is 233 - 265 days. A mother spends years rearing the infant, and may have only two or three in a lifetime which undoubtedly adds to their diminishing numbers.

The male orang utan grows to around 5ft tall and can weigh up to 200 pounds. Females however only reach half that size. Orang utans reach maturity at 7 - 10 years of age and can live in the wild up to 40 years old.

The orang utan is almost completely arboreal (tree-dwelling), which is why it is found in the lowland forests of Borneo and Sumatra. They have no tails and therefore cannot jump. They navigate round the canopy by climbing and swinging from tree to tree.

They are highly intelligent animals and possess great strength, their strong hands and feet, which can grip like hands, are supremely adapted to life in the trees. Using their long arms, which span between 7-8ft across, they gracefully swing through the forest canopy.

These apes make a fresh nest in the crown of a tree every night and rarely come to the ground to drink – drinking instead the water that collects in tree holes.