Orangutans spend nearly all of their time in the trees. Every night they climb up the trunks of trees and fashion ‘nests’ to sleep in. They generally like to be alone. Mothers, however, stay with their babies until they reach the age of six or seven. Females can grow to around 127 centimetres and weigh around 45 kilograms, while males can reach 175 centimetres in height and weigh over 118 kilograms.
Orangutans eat mostly sugary ripe fruits. Other food items include: young leaves, shoots and seeds, and sometimes insects and even bird eggs.
Orangutans are remarkably clever. Although tool use among chimpanzees was documented in the 1960s, it was not until the mid-1990s that one population of orangutans was found to use feeding tools. A 2003 paper in the journal Science described the evidence for distinct and discrete orangutan cultures. According to recent research, orangutans are the world's most intelligent animal other than man. They have a higher problem solving ability than chimpanzees. A recent study found them capable of tasks well beyond chimpanzees’ abilities — such as using leaves to make rain hats and water proof roofs over their nests. In short, orangutans have developed a complex culture in which adults teach youngsters how to make tools and find food.
The first orangutan language study program uses a special computer system. Scientists hope that the data will help researchers learn about social patterns, such as whether orangutans imitate others or learn by trial and error. They hope the data can point to new ways of protecting these animals.
Orangutans do make sounds that seem like genuine laughter in response to games like play chasing. However, they are generally passive, and live lone lives. They can also turn quite nasty if they feel they are being genuinely threatened.
Unfortunately, orangutans are in great danger according to current indexes. The Borneo population is estimated at about 50,000 in the wild, while the Sumatran species is estimated at only 7000-7500.
The destruction of orangutan homes has increased in recently, particularly since the electric saw has become the preferred tool. Mining and fires have also contributed to the destruction. A major factor has been the use of areas of the forest for the production of palm oil, which is in turn used to produce stuff like soap and chocolate. Much of this activity is illegal. However, it still occurs even in national parks. There is also a major problem with the capture and sale of baby orangutans in the pet trade. The hunters often kill the mother in order to steal the baby.
So, yes, whilst it is true that measures for the protection of orangutans are in place, this is hardly the time to rejoice. If more haste is not taken in increasing the number of these centres and improving protection, this delightful and extraordinarily clever animal may not be with us for very long.