| BORNEAN ORANGUTAN |
| Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus |
Range:
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Lowland Borneo |
 This longhaired red ape is one of two subspecies of orangutan. The other is the Sumatran Orangutan from the Asian island of Sumatra. It has extremely long arms that are used to move through the trees. Generally the male orangutan lives solitary. Females with young may form small groups. Feeding usually occurs at small, scattered sources and a single day may be spent feeding at one site.
The male sometimes produces a characteristic long call. This is a series of loud roars followed by bubbling groans and may be accompanied by the throwing of branches. This call helps keep the male aware of where other males are located, attracts receptive females and might act as a coordinating signal for individuals. Fibrous tissue called flanges surrounds the males face and a large throat sac enhances the long call. A male may participate in an aggressive display upon encountering another male.
Habitat Sponsored By:
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| Habitat: |
Lowland and hilly tropical rain forest |
| Diet: |
Coarse vegetation, fruits, nuts, tree bark, insects, soil, eggs, small vertebrates |
| Status: |
Endangered (SSP) due to habitat destruction and the pet trade |
| Approximate Dimensions of Adult: |
Weight: Male: 165-220 lbs. Female: 70-80 lbs. |
| Lifespan: |
35 years in the wild; 50 years in captivity |
| Reproduction & Offspring: |
Gestation: 260-270 days. Offspring: One. The orangutan is slow breeding. A female becomes sexually mature at age 6-7 and may only give birth every six years. She may remain fertile for up to thirty years. Offspring are weaned from the mother at three years and remain dependent on her until they are seven to ten years of age. |
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