World Orangutan Day – All About Orangutans and Orangutan Characteristics

Every Year on 19^th August, World Orangutan Day is celebrated. This day is observed to raise awareness about Orangutan Conservation and the importance of Orangutan habitat. The Orangutan animal population is declining due to Palm oil Industry. In fact, this industry is impacting Orangutan animal habitat due to deforestation. The word orangutan meaning is “person of the forest” in the Malay language.  These animals are also known as great apes. This article elaborates all about orangutans including Orangutan characteristics. There are three species of Orangutans. These species include Bornean (Pongo pygmaeus), Sumatran (Pongo abelii), and Tapanuli (Pongo tapanuliensis).

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World Orangutan Day Theme

World Orangutan Day Theme 2024 is “From The Nursery to The Canopy”. This theme highlights their rehabilitation journey from their early days in the nursery to their return to the wild. They are one of the world’s largest primates. This theme focuses on the Orangutan Conservation and orangutan habitat protection.

Characteristics of Orangutan Animal – All About Orangutans

Orangutans are great apes and belong to the family Hominidae. They are the world’s largest arboreal (tree-dwelling) mammals. They are among the most intelligent primates. As well as, orangutans are known to use tools in the wild. In addition, they can think and reason. They express emotions like joy, fear, anger and surprise. Moreover, they display significant sexual dimorphism. Further Orangutan characteristics include as follows.

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Adult males weigh between 50 to 90 kg while females weigh between 30 to 50 kg. Orangutans have distinctive reddish-brown fur on their bodies. They have long arms and short legs. Their strong arm muscles enable them to swing from tree to tree. Although, they are not as strong as gorilla but seven times stronger than a human.

Adult male orangutans have prominent Sagittal crest and cheek pads that are composed of subcutaneous accumulations of fibrous tissue. These cheek pads are called flanges. These pads are located between the eyes and ears. On the other hand, females and juveniles have relatively circular skulls and thin faces. Moreover, both male and female orangutans have a hanging sac from their throats. Cheek pads and throat sacs are used to make loud vocalizations called long calls. They have small unlobbed ears.

Their hands have long and curved four fingers with shorter opposable thumb. They use their fingers to hold and quickly release branches. Their feet have four long toes and an opposable big toe. They can hold, eat, and manipulate food using their hands and feet.

Orangutans use all four limbs to walk and climb. They have highly mobile hip joints. Therefore, they can rotate their legs almost at any angle. Moreover, they have flexible knee and ankle joints. They do not have tails. In addition, they have the ability to treat their injuries using medicinal plants. This was all about Orangutans and Orangutan characteristics.

Orangutan Habitat and Distribution of Orangutan Animal

Great Apes are native to the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. However, they are critically endangered due to habitat destruction. The Bornean species is found on the island of Borneo, while the Sumatran and Tapanuli species are native to Sumatra. Mostly, they live in trees.

Orangutan Conservation and World Orangutan Day

Great Apes are listed as critically endangered on IUCN red list. They have legal protection from capture, harm or killing in both Malaysia and Indonesia. Orangutans Outreach an organization is working to protect orangutans in their native forests of Borneo and Sumatra. As well as, World Orangutan Events is also working to promote orangutan conservation and welfare of orangutans. The Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation has worked tirelessly to conserve the Bornean orangutan habitat 1991. They play a key role in maintaining the health of forest ecosystems because they disperse seeds through their droppings. Therefore, it is necessary to conserve orangutan animal for a healthy ecosystem.

Editor In Chief

Dr. Jassar Aftab is a qualified Veterinarian having expertise in veterinary communication. He is a renowned veterinary Journalist of Pakistan. He is veterinary columnist, veterinary writer and veterinary analyst. He is the author of three books. He has written a number of articles and columns on different topics related to livestock, dairy, poultry, wildlife, fisheries, food security and different aspects of animal sciences and veterinary education.

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