Orangutans live in Indonesia on Borneo and Sumatra. Orangutans move by shimmying and climbing trees. They are very well adapted to hanging. However, they also walk on the ground. Orangutans eat fruit, seeds and leaves.

Orangutans live scattered lives, but not as scattered as gibbons. A single male is able to control the territories of several females. The male that has gained this position roams the territories of the females to meet them regularly and mate with them. The males that have not won the territory – i.e. most of them – roam the females‘ territories. They have no chance of landing with the females, because the females will only mate with a real male who has been victorious in the battle for the females. The victorious „boss“ can be recognized by the thick cheek swellings (see gallery). The males, who do not want to provoke the „boss“, do not have these swellings and remain as boyish as possible so as not to arouse suspicion.

The males of the orangutans are twice as heavy as the females (80 kg to 36 kg).

The roaming territorial males sometimes court the females, but usually in vain. These males often stalk the females in order to rape them. A large proportion of the children do not come from the „boss“.

The orangutans are highly endangered as their habitat is shrinking dramatically.

Source and recommendation:
Gerd Schuster and Wilie Smits; Thinkers of the Jungle: The Orangutan Report. Images. Facts. Backgrounds.