Orangutans - Facts for Kids

Basic Information

Orangutans are the only great apes native to Asia, and their name comes from the Malay words “orang” (person) and “hutan” (forest), literally meaning “person of the forest”!

Scientists group orangutans into three types: Bornean orangutans, Sumatran orangutans, and Tapanuli orangutans. The Tapanuli orangutan was only discovered in 2017!

Orangutans usually live alone, but when they do gather, some people playfully call the group a “buffoonery” or a “congress.”

Wild orangutans can live up to 35–40 years, while those in zoos and wildlife centers can reach 50–60 years of age!

Adult male orangutans can weigh up to 200 pounds (91 kilograms), making them the biggest tree-dwelling mammals in the world!

Female orangutans typically weigh between 80–110 pounds (36-50 kilograms), which is about half the size of adult males!

Adult male orangutans are called “flanged males” because they develop large cheek pads called flanges on their faces when they reach maturity (become adults)!

Baby orangutans are called “infants” just like human babies, and they stay with their mothers longer than any other mammal except humans!

Orangutans are omnivores (eat both plants and animals), but 60-90% of their diet consists of fruit, making them primarily frugivorous (fruit-eating)!

An orangutan’s arms can span up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) from fingertip to fingertip, which is longer than their standing height!

Physical Characteristics

Orangutans’ hands are so similar to humans’ that they have unique fingerprints just like we do!

An orangutan’s arm muscles are 5–7 times stronger than a human’s, allowing them to easily swing through the forest canopy (treetops)!

Orangutans have 32 teeth just like humans, but their molars (back teeth) are larger to help them chew tough forest foods!

Baby orangutans are born with a strong grip reflex (automatic gripping response) that allows them to hold onto their mother’s fur from the moment they’re born!

An orangutan’s feet are actually shaped like hands, with opposable big toes (thumbs on their feet) that help them grip branches while climbing!

The reddish-orange hair that covers an orangutan’s body is the longest hair of any mammal except the sloth!

Adult male orangutans can reach heights of 4.5 feet (1.37 meters) when standing upright!

An orangutan’s hip joints are specially adapted (changed over time) to allow them to move their legs in almost any direction while climbing!

Orangutans have the slowest growth rate of any mammal, taking about 2.5 years to reach juvenile stage (young adult stage)!

An orangutan’s arm span is about 1.5 times greater than their height!

Orangutans have special adaptations in their shoulders that allow them to lift their arms straight up over their heads, unlike other great apes!

An orangutan’s hand can grip a branch with a force strong enough to support about 5–7 times their body weight!

An orangutan’s feet can grip objects so well that they can hold a paintbrush and paint pictures!

An orangutan’s special hip joints allow them to lift their feet way above their heads while climbing!

Orangutans have curved fingers and toes that act like hooks when gripping branches!

Orangutans have special pads on their hands and feet that help them grip wet branches in the rain!

Their special throat pouches allow male orangutans to make calls that can be heard for over a mile!

Behavior & Intelligence

Scientists have observed orangutans in the wild using at least 54 different tools to help them gather food, protect themselves from rain, and complete other tasks!

Orangutans are the only great apes that prefer to live alone rather than in groups!

Young orangutans spend up to eight years learning what foods are safe to eat by watching their mothers!

Orangutans make a new nest every night by weaving together branches and leaves, building over 30,000 nests in their lifetime!

When it rains, orangutans often use large leaves as natural umbrellas to keep themselves dry!

Orangutans communicate using at least 32 different types of vocalizations (sounds), including “kiss-squeak” sounds and long calls!

Adult orangutans can learn to use touchscreens and have been observed playing simple computer games in zoos!

Orangutans plan their travel routes through the forest a day in advance, showing remarkable forethought (thinking ahead)!

Mother orangutans teach their babies over 200 different types of forest foods and how to find them!

Orangutans in rehabilitation centers (places that help animals recover) have been observed washing their hands after seeing their human caregivers do it!

Orangutans are so clever they can learn to untie really tricky knots — and even figure out how to use tools like screwdrivers!

Orangutans have been observed using leaves as makeshift gloves to handle spiky fruits!

Orangutans can remember the solutions to problems they encountered up to three years ago!

Orangutans have been seen using tree branches as walking sticks to test how deep water is!

Scientists have written down over 17 different face expressions that orangutans make!

Researchers have watched orangutans use soap plants that grow naturally to wash themselves!

Researchers have watched orangutans teach their children about healing plants that can help with pain!

Orangutans can shape their lips into a circle and whistle — just like humans!

Orangutans can learn to use sign language and orangutans can remember the signs for over 100 different words!

Orangutans can learn to use a hammer and nail after watching humans do it just a few times!

Orangutans sometimes trade things with each other — like objects or tools — showing they understand swapping!

Orangutans can remember where thousands of trees are in their home area!

Orangutans use their sharp color vision to spot ripe fruit from a distance — even before they move closer to check it out!