Bornean orangutan
Quick Summary
The Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is one of three species of great apes found in the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo. These arboreal mammals are known for their long arms, reddish-brown hair, and significant cognitive abilities, comparable to gorillas and chimpanzees.12
Orangutans spend most of their lives in trees, feeding primarily on fruit but also consuming invertebrates and occasionally meat. Adult males are larger than females and develop distinctive cheek pads and a throat pouch used for vocalizations. Females have a very long breeding interval, giving birth on average once every eight years.1
All orangutan species are classified as critically endangered due to habitat loss from farming and logging, as well as poaching.13
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