Facts about Orangutans

1. 08

   Orangutans consume over 400 different food types including fruits, leaves, bark, and insects, making them one of the most omnivorous ape species.

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2. 07

   During infancy, young orangutans depend on their mothers for up to 6 or 7 years, the longest childhood dependency period of any ape species except humans.

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3. 06

   Bornean orangutans possess larger cheek pads called flanges that can expand to 28 inches wide, which adult males use to intimidate rivals and attract females.

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4. 05

   Female orangutans reach reproductive maturity around 12 to 15 years old and typically give birth to only one offspring every 6 to 7 years, making them one of the slowest-reproducing apes.

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5. 04

   The Sumatran orangutan population has declined by approximately 80 percent over the past 20 years due to habitat loss from deforestation and palm oil plantations.

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6. 03

   Orangutans construct sleeping nests from branches and leaves each night, using a different nest for nearly every sleep to avoid parasites and predators.

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7. 02

   A male orangutan's arm span reaches up to 7 feet, allowing these apes to swing through rainforest canopies with remarkable agility and efficiency.

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8. 01

   In the Indonesian rainforests, orangutans share approximately 97 percent of their DNA with humans, making them our closest living relatives after chimpanzees.

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