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Bornean Orangutan

 
 
Adult male Bornean orangutan in rainforest canopy in Indonesia
© naturepl.com / Tim Laman / WWF-Canon
  1. ORANGUTAN
  2. BORNEAN ORANGUTAN
 

FACTS

 
  • CRSTATUS
    Critically Endangered
  • POPULATION
    About 104,700
  • SCIENTIFIC NAME
    Pongo pygmaeus
  • HEIGHT
    3.3 – 4.6 feet
  • WEIGHT
    66–220 pounds
  • HABITATS
    Lowland rainforests and tropical, swamp and mountain forests

Bornean orangutan populations have declined by more than 50% over the past 60 years, and the species' habitat has been reduced by at least 55% over the past 20 years.

The Bornean orangutan differs in appearance from the Sumatran orangutan, with a broader face and shorter beard and also slightly darker in color. Three subspecies are recognized, each localized to different parts of the island:

  • Northwest Bornean orangutans are the most threatened subspecies. Its habitat has been seriously affected by logging and hunting, and a mere 1,500 individuals or so remain. Many habitat patches in the area are small and fragmented.
  • Northeast Bornean orangutans are the smallest in size and found in Sabah and eastern Kalimantan as far as the Mahakam River.
  • Central Bornean orangutans are the subspecies with the most animals, with at least 35,000 individuals.