Amazing Orangutans

There are many primate species, but orangutans just might be the most interesting. Their intelligence has been studied for years, and scientists have found that orangutans behave and interact in ways not seen in any other kind of animal. Check out some cool facts about our distant relatives below.

• Orangutans live most of their lives above ground, in the trees of the rainforest. They get their food and water from trees, and build nests to sleep every night.
• They can identify hundreds of species of fruit, plants and flowers, knowing which ones are safe to eat.
• Orangutans are great apes, not monkeys.
• Wild orangutans are only found on the Asian islands of Sumatra and Borneo.
• Unlike other great apes like chimpanzees, orangutans like to live alone instead of in groups.
• When it rains, orangutans will make umbrellas out of big leaves.
• Orangutans can be taught to solve problems and use computers. They also are very good at learning to use the items around them.

• Since they swing from tree to tree to get around, orangutans are seven times stronger than humans.
• The word orangutan means “man of the forest.”
• Human activities like logging for palm oil have caused the orangutan population to decline.
• Orangutans make the “duck lips” face as a warning to stay away.
• Orangutans can’t swim, but they will play in water.
• Like other apes, orangutans use “medicines.” They will eat soil or rocks to treat stomach problems and use plants on injuries.
• Humans share almost 97 percent of our DNA with orangutans.

• Like humans, orangutan babies spend years with their mothers learning their way around the world.
• In captivity, orangutans have learned to communicate with humans using signs.
• Some orangutans build complicated nests with roofs, pillows and blankets.
• Both the Bornean and Sumatran orangutans are on the list of endangered species.
• Compared to other primates, orangutans are usually more gentle and kind to humans.