A Bornean orangutan rests behind a bamboo support, featuring wide, dark, leathery cheek flanges (pads) framing its face. Shaggy, reddish-orange fur covers its body, and it has a soft beard under its chin set against a rocky background.

AsiaMammalsCritically Endangered

Bornean Orangutan

Where Bornean Orangutans Live

Continent: Asia

Tropical rainforests, from lowland swamp forests to mountain forests, on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, Indonesia and Malaysia.

The orangutan is the largest tree dwelling mammal in the world, an intelligent, solitary great ape found only on the Southeast Asian islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Its name means "person of the forest" in Malay, reflecting both its appearance and remarkable cognitive abilities. Orangutans move through the canopy using their extremely long arms, rarely descending to the ground. With the slowest reproductive rate of any land mammal, all three orangutan species (Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli) are critically endangered, driven largely by habitat loss from palm oil deforestation.

The silhouette of Asia map on the white background.

Asia

Quick Facts

HeightAround 1.2 to 1.4 m (4 to 4.6 ft)

WeightMales up to 90 to 100 kg (200 to 220 lb), females about half that

Lifespan35 to 58 years, varying by species and sex

SpeedNot built for speed, an efficient arboreal climber instead

DietMostly fruit, plus leaves, bark, insects, and occasionally small vertebrates

Clutch1 infant per birth, gestation about 8 to 9 months

Population icon

PopulationBornean roughly 100,000, Sumatran around 13,800, Tapanuli fewer than 800

RangeBorneo and Sumatra

Conservation Status

EXExtinct

EWExtinct in the Wild

CRCritically Endangered

ENEndangered

VUVulnerable

NTNear Threatened

LCLeast Concern

NENot Evaluated

How Bornean Orangutans Survive in the Wild

An orangutan using a stick tool, demonstrating intelligent behavior with its long reddish-brown fur visible and dexterous hands gripping the implement, set against a lush green rainforest background.

1

A New Nest Every Night

Orangutans build a new sleeping nest high in the trees almost every single night, folding branches into a secure platform.

A sweet infant orangutan with wild wisps of rust-colored hair, round dark eyes reflecting light, delicate features and small rounded ears visible in this intimate portrait against a natural jungle setting.

2

Arms Built for Swinging

Their arms can be up to twice the length of their legs, giving them exceptional reach and strength for swinging through the canopy.

An endearing baby orangutan with tousled orange-red fur and oversized eyes gazing directly at the camera, tiny fingers visible, its cherubic face expressing gentle wonder amid rainforest greenery.

3

The Slowest Breeders

They have the longest interbirth interval of any land mammal, sometimes up to 8 or 9 years, making population recovery extremely slow.

1 / 3

Social Lives of Bornean Orangutans

A mature male orangutan with prominent cheek pads (flanges) framing his broad face, his deep-set dark eyes gazing forward, long reddish-brown fur cascading from his shoulders against a forest backdrop.

1

The Most Solitary Ape

Orangutans are the most solitary of the great apes, with adult males typically traveling and foraging alone.

A close-up shot of an adult orangutan and a younger orangutan with long, reddish-brown fur resting side by side, with the younger one nibbling on a small green leaf.

2

Mothers and Young Bond

Females travel with their young for years, forming the closest and longest lasting orangutan social bonds.

A dominant adult male Bornean or Sumatran orangutan displaying fully developed facial flanges and a large throat pouch, his powerful frame covered in lengthy burnt-orange fur, photographed in his natural rainforest habitat.

3

Flanges Signal Maturity

Males develop large cheek pouches called flanges as a visible sign of maturity and dominance, which females appear to favor when selecting mates.

1 / 3

Photo Gallery

An orangutan using a stick tool, demonstrating intelligent behavior with its long reddish-brown fur visible and dexterous hands gripping the implement, set against a lush green rainforest background.

A mother orangutan cradling her infant close to her chest, their matching rust-colored fur intertwined as the baby peers out with wide dark eyes, surrounded by dense tropical foliage.

A protective mother orangutan holding her young baby against her body, the infant's small face visible beside the mother's weathered features, both displaying characteristic shaggy orange-red coats amid verdant jungle vegetation.

A mature male orangutan with prominent cheek pads (flanges) framing his broad face, his deep-set dark eyes gazing forward, long reddish-brown fur cascading from his shoulders against a forest backdrop.

A dominant adult male Bornean or Sumatran orangutan displaying fully developed facial flanges and a large throat pouch, his powerful frame covered in lengthy burnt-orange fur, photographed in his natural rainforest habitat.

An orangutan hanging suspended from a tree branch with long muscular arms extended overhead, showcasing its arboreal adaptations with fingers gripping bark, shaggy copper-toned fur backlit by filtered jungle light.

An orangutan feeding, bringing food to its mouth with nimble fingers, its expressive dark eyes focused on the meal, distinctive orange fur framing a thoughtful face surrounded by green tropical leaves.

A young orangutan with fuzzy reddish fur and an inquisitive expression, large round dark eyes dominating its small face, fine wispy hair standing out against soft-focus green foliage.

A close-up portrait of a baby orangutan's face, capturing its soulful dark eyes, small pink-tinged lips, and sparse ginger fur covering soft features, conveying innocent curiosity.

An endearing baby orangutan with tousled orange-red fur and oversized eyes gazing directly at the camera, tiny fingers visible, its cherubic face expressing gentle wonder amid rainforest greenery.

A sweet infant orangutan with wild wisps of rust-colored hair, round dark eyes reflecting light, delicate features and small rounded ears visible in this intimate portrait against a natural jungle setting.

An orangutan eating a yellow banana, lips wrapped around the fruit, hands deftly holding the peel, shaggy orange fur surrounding an expressive face focused intently on its meal in a verdant forest environment.

Flashcards