Sumatran Orangutan
What's a Sumatran Orangutan
DESCRIPTION
The Sumatran Orangutan is a fascinating creature. The color of the orangutan is reddish brownish ( which is why it is sometimes called the red ape ) and is shaped and looks like a human. the Sumatran Orangutan male grows to be about two and a half feet tall. While the female grows to be about two feet tall. The male orangutan usually has a long beard, long red hair, a moustache, and throat pouches. The female though has light hair and narrow cheek pads on its face.
HABITAT
The Sumatran Orangutan is located in southwest Asia on the two islands Sumatra and Borneo. It lives in the forest canopy and builds a nest in the trees to sleep in. Some times when it rains or is too hot out it will make a sort of umbrella out of leaves to shade itself or keep itself dry.
CLASSIFACATION
The Scientific name of the Sumatran Orangutan is"Pongo Abelii."
- In kingdom: group Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Primates
- Family: Hominidae
- Genus: Pongo
- Species: Abelii
NUTRITION
Sumatran Orangutans mostly eat fruit, but their favorite fruit is a huge spiky fruit called Durian. The fruit smells really bad and tastes alot like custard and garlic. They also eat in addition to fruit and Durian flowers, honey, bark, leaves, and insects.
Durian
A baby Orangutan eating Durian
Durian fruit
The Durian fruit strait from the tree
Banana
Orangutan eating a banana
THREATS AND SOLUTIONS
The Sumatran Orangutan is becoming extinct. The reasons why is because of Deforestization for homes, farms, and business that cause erosion to the ground, Illegal pet trade and trophy hunting, and the death rate is faster than the birth rate which makes them die even faster. It is said that the Sumatran Orangutan will become one of the first species of primates to die First. Some of the things being done to protect the animal from becoming extinct is the restoration of degraded forests from Deforestization, Building networks of villages which protect and guard the Orangutan, a response unit made to stop farmers from shooting or hunting orangutan's when they are forced to eat crop, and environment education to raise the awareness of the importance of the Orangutan so people will be motivated to donate and campaign for its protection. What I think could be done to protect this species other than what is already being done is that they could have a unit that checks the things that are imported and exported, and when someone is shipping illegal orangutan's they get arrested. Or, check the people who come through the area to see if they stole any primates. What anyone can do to help this species is to donate money to the "Sumatran Orangutan Society" (S.O.S) to help with the planting of new trees, and thestoping of illegal trade, and/or support the campaigns to help change the orangutan's fate. In the Bible God tells us that when man was created God made us the caretakers for the animals. He also said that we were supposed to take care of them and not abuse or hurt the animals that God has given us. We are responsible to watch over the animals and treat them kindly.
Sumatran Orangutans - critically endangered
Illegal trade
Orangutan being sold as a pet to someone
Help
Primate being caried to the care center
Care
Orangutan being cared for by an austrian helper
FUN FACTS
- They can live up to 45 years in the wild.
- They have approximately 3 offsprings in their life time.
- Orangutans can make 13-15 different sounds.
- Their arms can reach more than 8 feet.
- Female Orangutans can only have one baby at a time every 7-9 yrs.
Mother and baby
Mother Orangutans are very protective.
The Call!
Making one of the sounds to call other Orangutans.
Cheese!
Smile for the camera!
Orangutan Longcall
If you want more information on the Sumatran Orangutan click on this link.