15 Facts About Orangutans That You Didn’t Know

Arguably one of the most fascinating creatures to watch in the whole animal kingdom, the orangutan is also a very intelligent primate. Instantly recognizable by its bright red-orange fur, distinct forehead, long arms and short legs, orangutans are often referred to as gentle giants due to their tender nature. 

Seriously, what’s not to love? 

Here are 15 amazing facts about these great apes that will make you fall in love with them:

1. Orangutans are semi-solitary 

Once they reach maturity, orangutans in the wild will spend the majority of their life on their own. Especially the males who, on average, are alone for 90% of the time.

2. Orangutans are one of our closest relatives 

Humans share around 97% of the same DNA as orangutans, making them one of our closest relatives. In fact, the word orangutan literally means “human of the forest.” 

3. Orangutans give birth, on average, once every 8 years

The female orangutan only gives birth around once every 8 years. However, the infant will stay with their mother for the first 6-7 years of its life, learning all the skills it needs in order to survive on its own. 

4. Orangutans can be noisy animals 

If you have ever visited the orangutans at the zoo, then you may already be aware of this fact, but the howl of an orangutan can be heard for miles. Although quiet a lot of the time, males will usually make themselves heard when they are trying to mark their territory and keep rivals away. 

5. Orangutans are on the endangered species list 

Sadly, these amazing creatures are in danger of becoming extinct, with their main threats being deforestation for palm oil, continued demand for palm oil and illegal hunting. Although impossible to know the exact numbers, there are thought to be only50,000 to 65,000 orangutans left in the wild, with 2,000 to 3,000 being killed every year. 

6. Zoos can help conserve orangutans 

It can oftentimes be a lot safer for orangutans to live in managed care than in the wild, due to the vast amount of dangers that they face, such as loss of habitat, infants being taken for the pet trade, and human-animal conflict during habitat destruction.

Zoos can help the conservation of this species through managed breeding programs as well as providing funding for rehabilitation and purchasing land to be set aside specifically for orangutans

7. One of the largest natural outdoor orangutan habitats in the U.S is at the Gulf Breeze Zoo in Florida

Measuring in at over 43,000 square feet, this huge outdoor habitat offers a lot of space for the orangutans to thrive in, providing a selection of mature trees and climbing structures that are ideal for making the animals feel at home. Not to mention, the warm climate of Florida mimics the temperatures they are used to in of Indonesia and Malaysia 

Eric Mogensen, CEO at Gulf Breeze Zoo, is dedicated to the conservation of orangutans, as well as many other endangered species, and continues to develop conservation efforts around the globe to help combat the declining numbers of these animals. 

8. Orangutans have very long arms 

In fact, their arm span is actually longer than their height! With the average orangutan’s arm span being about 7 ft., when standing their arms stretch down to their ankles. Of course, these long arms are needed as they spend the majority of their time swinging from branch to branch in the trees. 

9. Orangutans are incredibly dexterous 

With the ability to gather and eat their food with either their hands or feet while they are traveling through the trees, orangutans have feet that are almost exactly the same in appearance and ability as their hands. Just perfect for gripping the branches as they swing through the forest. 

10. Male orangutans develop ‘flanges’ on their face 

Flanges are flaps of fatty tissue that develop once a male orangutan has reached maturity. These flaps are instrumental in attracting a female, as they are one of the physical attributes that female orangutans will consider when choosing a mate. 

11. They build nests to sleep in 

Ever resourceful, orangutans will use any natural materials available to them to create a comfortable bed to sleep in each and every night. Taking around 10 minutes to create, they will gather large branches to make the main structure of the nest, and then use smaller branches to create a mattress. 

12. They create their own tools 

These clever primates use sticks to get bees, termites and ants out of tree holes, with some even having been seen to create their own gloves from leaves to stop their hands from becoming injured by thorny branches. 

13. Their favorite food smells like sewage 

While orangutans eat a varied diet of vegetation, flowers, insects, soil and tree bark, 60% of their diet is fruit-based, with the very favorite food in the wild being the durian fruit. This spiky fruit, although rich in nutrients, has the unfortunate property of smelling like rotting flesh and underground sewage. In fact, it smells so bad that it has been banned on many types of public transport in Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong. 

14. Orangutans like to be tickled 

Scientists have found that orangutans have a good sense of empathy and mimicry, which could allow them to enjoy laughter. In fact, some have even been seen to show signs of laughter when they are tickled. 

15. Orangutans have the cognitive ability to learn sign language

One of the first orangutans to learn sign language, a male named Chantek was taught over 150 different signs by an anthropologist and even learned how to clean his own room, use a toilet and negotiate for treats.