How do Bornean orangutans differ from Sumatran orangutans?

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An illustration of a female Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) with long reddish-brown fur, hanging from tree branches with one arm extended upward and one leg hooked over a branch. A scale bar at the bottom shows lengths of 30 centimeters and 12 inches for size reference. — orangutan Female orangutans (*Pongo*) have the longest breeding interval of any mammal, giving birth on average once every eight years.

Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) and Sumatran orangutans (P. abelii) differ primarily in their geographic distribution and specific behavioral traits.

Geographic Range: The Bornean orangutan inhabits large portions of the island of Borneo, whereas the Sumatran orangutan is limited to the northern region of Sumatra.1
Tool Use: While all orangutans demonstrate high cognitive abilities, there are notable differences in tool use. In the wild, Sumatran orangutans have been observed consistently making and using tools for foraging, such as defoliating sticks to extract insects or honey from tree holes. Furthermore, the Sumatran species has been documented engaging in wound care by using medicinal plants to treat injuries, a behavior not reported in the Bornean species.1

Both species are classified as critically endangered due to habitat loss and poaching, and it is an ethical imperative to protect these intelligent primates from the threat of extinction.1