The Bornean Orangutan

"Malaysia's Great Ape Species"

One of the world's fascinating primates, the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) stands as one of Asia's two Great Ape species, a group that includes African gorillas, chimpanzees and humans.

There are only two species of orangutans. The Bornean species inhabits the island of Borneo, a large island combining parts of Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. The Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) inhabits the island of Sumatra, part of Indonesia.

These two equatorial islands are the last refuges for wild orangutans. To tell the two species apart, check out their hair color. The Bornean species is often more reddish and darker; the Sumatran species tends to be more orange and lighter.

Thrashing through the rainforest canopy, seeing a Bornean orangutan in the wild is one of my favorite nature experiences. Watch how these gentle giants cruise the treetops searching for fruit, leaves and flowers and marvel at their graceful movements.

With forward looking eyes and hands and fingers that clasp, orangutans have a strange familiarity to our own species.

An Adult Male Orangutan in His Perch on a Rain Forest Tree
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Bornean Orangutan: 10 Natural History Facts

• Recent estimations of orangutan populations in Borneo: Sabah (11,000), Sarawak (2,000), Central Kalimantan (32,800), East Kalimantan (4,300), West Kalimantan (6,400).
• Endangered orangutans are protected by law in Indonesia, Sabah and Sarawak with penalties for capturing or harming animals.

• The Malay meaning of orangutan is "forest people"; however, local names in Borneo range from kogiu, kahui, kisau, juwud or maias.
• Local legends tell of wild tales with native hunters being seduced and kept captive by female orangutans and that the species stopped talking to prevent being captured as slaves by humans.
• Orangutans survive in disturbed and flooded forests in Sabah, but cannot survive in plantation areas.
• In a 20 year span, the orangutan population of Sabah dropped by 40 percent from 20,000 to 11,000; mainly due to the expansion of plantation agriculture.
• Orangutans displaced by deforestation, hunting of females or kept as pets lead to the establishment of the first rehabilitation center at Sepilok, Sabah in 1964.
• Caves in Sarawak show signs of cooked orangutans for human consumption more than 35,000 years ago.
• Nearly two thousand orangutans have been extracted from Borneo and Sumatra and shipped off to zoos and research institutions since the early 19th century.
• Besides loss of habitat, illegal hunting and forest fires threaten the survival of Bornean orangutans.

Bornean Orangutan: Sightseeing Opportunities

The best places to see an orangutan in the wild are the forest and wildlife reserves, rehabilitation centres, conservation areas and national parks spread throughout Borneo. These lowland and hill dipterocarp forests are the last strongholds for wild populations.

Take the time to plan a trip to one of these important endangered animal sanctuaries to view one of nature's truly unique species. And study up on your orangutan facts before you go to get a headstart on your primate education.

Malaysia

Sepilok Forest Reserve (Sabah) - A popular destination for anyone going to Sabah, the centre is located just outside Sandakan and offers a great experience and a guaranteed chance to see adult and young orangutans amid the rainforest with an interpretation centre next door.

Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary (Sabah)- Cruise the languid river and scan the shoreline forests for glimpses of orangutans, proboscis monkeys and the Bornean pygmy elephant. With over 1,000 wild orangutans in the area, your chances are fair to good to make an observation.

Tabin Wildlife Reserve (Sabah) - A site designated for translocating displaced orangutans, be sure to enquire about special nature tours for sighting these rehabilitated rainforest animals.

Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (Sarawak) -Just a half-hour away from Kuching, this rehab centre trains semi-wild orangutans, rescued as orphans, to survive in surrounding forests.

Batang Ai National Park & Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary (Sarawak) - Walk the trails around this remote resort facility to happen upon an orangutan sighting. No guarantees.

Indonesia

Tanjung Puting Rehabilitation Center (Kalimantan) - Started back in 1971 as Camp Leakey by Birute Galdikas to study wild animals, the rehab center now has a large population of orangutans inhabiting the swamp forests.

Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Center (Kalimantan) - Set up to deal with rescued infants from forest fires and hunting pressure, the centre is near Palangkaraya, the capital of Central Kalimantan. Hundreds of animals are kept as "prestige pets" and the expansion of oil palm plantations keeps this facility too busy.

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