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They are a crucial
part of the rainforest environment, helping to disperse seeds and keep the
forest ecosystem healthy. Orangutans are only found in Borneo and Sumatra
Island and are classified into three species: Orang utan Sumatera/Sumatrans
Orangutan (Pongo abelii), Orang utan Kalimantan/Borneo Orangutans (Pongo
pygmaeus), and Orang utan Tapanuli/Tapanuli Orangutans (Pongo tapanuliensis),
which was discovered in 2017.
Orangutan is
endangered species, they are desperate due to the habitat lost and hunted
because it is considered to disturb oil palm plantations.
The Differences Between Orangutan
Species
The Sumatran orangutan
has a longer face compared to the Bornean and Tapanuli orangutans. It has an
oval-shaped face with a downward sagging face. However, the Bornean orangutans
have flared cheek pads, giving their faces a rounder appearance. The Tapanuli
orangutan's face’s shape looks like that of the Bornean orangutan, but the
cheek pads look flatter, and have a mustache and a blonde beard. They also have
smaller heads and frizzier hair on their bodies.
The Sumatran
orangutans have brown-orange and longer hair than others. On the other hand,
Bornean orangutans have darker brown hair, and the Tapanulis have blonde hair.
Sumatran orangutans are more arboreal and frugivorous than Borneo orangutans.
They do, however, eat bird eggs and small vertebrates. The orangutans are also
highly skilled at using tools for hunting. They are also more social than their
Bornean counterparts. It also has a smaller body size than the Bornean.
Habitats and populations
Orangutans can be
found in tropical rainforests. Because they have long and strong arms, they can
move quickly and easily between trees. Lowland woods, highland forests, and
mountain forests can be home to orangutans. They are generally found in
locations with a lot of rain and warm temperatures. With their long arms and
flexible fingers, they are well adapted to their woodland habitat, allowing
them to climb, swing, and cling to branches with ease.
Orangutan habitat is
critical to their survival. They can find food, shelter, and protection from
predators in the rainforest. Unfortunately, deforestation and human activities
such as logging, mining, and agriculture are endangering orangutans' habitat.
This has resulted in significant population declines in orangutan populations,
with all three species now classified as critically endangered. Orangutans are
losing their homes and food sources as their forest habitats continue to be
destroyed, putting their survival in jeopardy.
The orangutan
population has been steadily declining over the last few decades. Approximately
60% of the population has been lost in the last 50 years. There are
approximately 14,600 Sumatran orangutans left in the wild. With 1045,700
individuals, the Bornean Orangutan population is larger, but it is 50% lower
than a decade ago when there were 230,000 individuals. The Tapanuli orangutans,
on the other hand, have a very small population, with only 800 individuals
remaining. It is listed as "Critically Endangered" on the IUCN Red
List and is one of the world's 25 most endangered primates.
Conservation Effort
Orangutans are
threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and the pet trade, among other factors.
Several conservation efforts have been implemented to help protect them and
their habitats. The area protection effort is one of the conservation
strategies. Several protected areas have been established to conserve orangutan
populations, including national parks, wildlife reserves, and conservation
areas. These protected areas provide a haven for orangutans and other
endangered species.
Habitat restoration
has been undertaken by many organizations. These projects involve planting
trees and creating corridors that connect fragmented forest areas, which allows
them to move more freely and access more food resources. Aside from that,
education and awareness programs have been developed to educate local
communities about the importance of orangutan conservation.
These programs aim to
reduce hunting and the pet trade, which pose significant threats to orangutans.
Rescue and rehabilitation centers have been established to care for orphaned or
injured orangutans. These centers provide medical treatment, food, and shelter
to these primates until they can be released back into the wild.
Conclusion
Orangutans are one of
the largest primates in the world and are only found on the Indonesian islands
of Sumatra and Kalimantan. There are three known types of orangutans: the
Sumatran orangutan, the Bornean orangutan, and the Tapanuli orangutan.
Orangutans live in tropical rainforests and eat fruits, leaves, and flowers.
The orangutan population has declined dramatically in recent decades, and today
they are becoming increasingly threatened by habitat loss and hunting.
Sources:
- Wich, S. A., Utami-Atmoko, S. S., Setia, T. M., Rijksen, H. D., Schürmann, C., Van Hooff, J. A. R. A. M., & van Schaik, C. P. (2004). Life history of wild Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii). Journal of human evolution, 47(6), 385-398.
- Loken, B., Spehar, S., & Rayadin, Y. (2013). Terrestriality in the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus morio) and implications for their ecology and conservation. American Journal of Primatology, 75(11), 1129-1138.
- Wich, S. A., Fredriksson, G., Usher, G., Kühl, H. S., & Nowak, M. G. (2019). The Tapanuli orangutan: Status, threats, and steps for improved conservation. Conservation Science and Practice.
- Husson, S. J., Wich, S. A., Marshall, A. J., Dennis, R. D., Ancrenaz, M., Brassey, R., ... & Singleton, I. (2009). Orangutan distribution, density, abundance and impacts of disturbance. Orangutans: Geographic variation in behavioral ecology and conservation, 77-96.
- Knott, C. D. (1999). Orangutan behavior and ecology. The nonhuman primates, 5, 50-57.
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