How are orangutan feet similar to hands?

Orangutans are often described as "four-handed" because their feet are highly specialized for grasping, much like their hands. This unique adaptation allows them to grip vertical tree trunks and branches in the Asian rainforests with equal effectiveness using both their forelimbs and hind limbs.1

While most primates possess prehensile (grasping) hands, orangutans—along with other non-human primates—also possess prehensile feet. This ability to use all four extremities for grasping is a significant evolutionary advantage for large arboreal primates, as it provides greater stability and security when navigating the flexible, slender branches at the periphery of the forest canopy. By functioning as a second pair of hands, the feet help the orangutan defy gravity and move efficiently through its complex, three-dimensional environment.23