The Bornean orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus, is one of three orangutan species found in Southeast Asia. It occurs in several isolated populations across Borneo and the Sumatran province of Indonesia. The orangutans are named after the Orang-O ethnicity as they are dark skinned like people from the Orang-o tribe. The Bornean orangutan is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and at present there are only about 104,000 individuals left in the wild. The majority of them live in two protected areas; Gunung Kerinci National Park and Tanjung Puting National Park (Tinjungputi Wildlife Reserve). This article covers everything you need to know about these fascinating primates including what they eat, their behavior, reproduction and threats to their survival. Read on to learn more.
Bornean Orangutans Description
The Bornean orangutan is one of the smallest of the three species of orangutans. It grows to a height of between 120 and 140 centimeters and have a shoulder width of approximately 53 centimeters. The females are usually smaller than their male counterparts. Males have a protruding head and a deep chest, while females have a more rounded head and a slimmer physique. Unlike the other species, the Bornean orangutan has a dark reddish-brown rather than a reddish-yellow hair color. It also has a pale face and brown-gray back and rump. The palms of the hands and feet are white, and the soles are pink. The Bornean orangutan has a dark brown face and muzzle, a white chin, and a dark brown triangular patch above both eyes.
Bornean Orangutans Habitat
The Bornean orangutan can be found in primary and secondary forests in the coastal and highland areas of Borneo. The species prefers habitats that are relatively undisturbed by humans. The orangutans can also be found in or around rainforest areas, but they prefer habitats that have a distance of at least 300 meters between each rainforest tree. These species prefer to live in the secondary forest where there is plenty of space and less competition for food. The primary and secondary forests of Borneo are the largest remaining sources of orangutans. However, they are also under pressure from increasing pressure from habitat destruction and a declining population, so the future of this species is uncertain.
Bornean Orangutans Diet
The Bornean orangutan is a frugivorous species meaning it is primarily fruit-eating. It is a highly territorial species, and the orangutans will return to the same branches of trees to forage for food. The fruit that the orangutans eat may be key to maintaining their health. A recent study has shown the orangutans of Borneo consume 10 times more fruit than was previously thought. The species eats a wide variety of fruit from over 400 plant species. They can be found eating fruit from as early as December and as late as May. The orangutans will eat ripe or unripe fruit. Ripe fruit has a high sugar content, while unripe fruit is low in sugar and contains essential vitamins and minerals.
Bornean Orangutans Size
The Bornean orangutan grows to a height of between 120 and 140 centimeters, their weight is between 90 and 120 kilograms and has a shoulder width of approximately 53 centimeters. The females are usually smaller than their male counterparts. Males have a protruding head and a deep chest, while females have a more rounded head and a slimmer physique. The orangutans are one of the smallest of the three orangutan species. The Bornean orangutan is the only orangutan species that live in the rainforest.
Bornean Orangutans Lifespan
The Bornean orangutan has a lifespan of between 40 and 50 years. This species has been studied in several wild orangutan populations, and the data collected shows that the average lifespan of an orangutan in the wild is the same as that of the Bornean orangutan. However, because not enough data are available for any individual orangutan in the wild to create a reliable average lifespan for the species, it is difficult to say for certain how long the Bornean orangutan lives in the wild. Based on existing data, the Bornean orangutan lives for the same amount of time as other orangutan species in Southeast Asia. The species is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, so conservation efforts are important to ensure their survival.
Bornean Orangutans Behavior
The Bornean orangutans are highly territorial, and they will defend their home range aggressively against intruders. When a potential trespasser is spotted, the Bornean orangutan will become very excited and vocal. It will rush towards the intruder, raise its arms and make loud calls. If this initial attempt to scare off the intruder fails, the orangutan will growl and show its teeth at the intruder. If the intruder still stays in its territory, the orangutan will chase the intruder through the forest. The Bornean orangutan will even attack humans that enter its territory. Attacks on humans are not common, but they do occur. Studies of the Bornean orangutan indicate that the species is highly intelligent. They show a high level of tool use, can learn complex tasks quickly and can solve problems in creative and imaginative ways.
Bornean Orangutans Speed
The Bornean orangutan is a very strong species, and it can run at speeds of up to 46 kilometers per hour. These orangutans are excellent tree climbers and can move from branch to branch with ease. The species is also good at climbing up trees that are far above the ground. These orangutans are excellent at climbing and swinging from high branches. When foraging for food, the Bornean orangutan uses a method known as probing for foods. This means the orangutans will climb up a tree and then swing from branch to branch until they discover a good food source. When the orangutans are tired from swinging from the branches, they will probe the tree by touching it with their hands. This method of foraging is effective at finding food, but it also exposes the orangutans to a host of hazards, such as falling branches and potential predators.
Bornean Orangutans Hunting
Bornean orangutans are excellent tree climbers, and they can also swing from branches using their hands as well. This allows the orangutans to swing across the forest canopy and hunt for small mammals such as squirrels, colugos and bats. When they find a tasty food source, the orangutans will swing back to the tree they started from. The orangutans will then use their hands to probe the tree for berries, fungi and insects that they can eat. When the orangutans are tired from swinging, they will use their hands to probe the tree for food. The Bornean orangutans are also great hunters of hard-shelled fruits. They will search for ripe fruits on the ground, climb up and attack the hard-shelled fruits such as those found on fig trees and pomegranates. These species are also good at digging for edible roots, such as those found in underground storage organs.
Conclusion
The Bornean orangutan is one of the most endangered species of great apes. There are only about 104,000 individuals left in the wild. The animals are threatened by deforestation and habitat loss, as well as poaching and illegal trade. People also kill orangutans as a way of making money on the black market because they’re considered pests that destroy crops.
They are being pushed to the brink of extinction by a variety of factors, including habitat destruction, climate change, and poaching. If we don’t act quickly, these magnificent creatures will be lost forever. We need to do whatever we can to protect them from extinction.
One way you can help is by signing an online petition to raise awareness about these endangered animals. You can also donate to organizations working to protect orangutans in the wild. By taking action today, you can help save this incredible species from disappearing forever.
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