Habitat

Orangutans inhabit tropical forests. Tropical forests have little variance in temperature (around 23 degrees Celsius) and length of daylight (around 12 hours). However, rainfall varies considerably and is a primary factor as to the type of vegetation that grows in an area.

Borneo and Sumatra represent only 1.3% of Indonesia's land mass but support 10% of its known plant species, 12.5% of its mammals, and 17% of its other vertebrates (animals with backbones). Borneo alone has around 15,000 species of flowering plants, which is equivalent to the flowering plant diversity of the entire African continent.

Distribution

Bornean Orangutans

Central Bornean orangutans (P.p.wurmbii) inhabit the following Borneo habitat units: Sebangau, Tanjung Puting, Belantikan, Mawas, and Gunung Palung. Refer to Taxonomy—Subspecies for general distribution.

Northeast Bornean orangutans (P.p.morio) inhabit the following Borneo habitat units: Sabah Foundation Forestry Concession (east), Kinabatangan and Gunung Gajah/Berau/Kutai. Refer to Taxonomy—Subspecies for general distribution.

Northwest Bornean orangutans (P.p.pygmaeus) inhabit the following Borneo habitat units: Batang Ai/Lanjak-Entimau/Betung—Kerihun and Danau—Sentarum. Refer to Taxonomy-Subspecies for general distribution.

Sumatran Orangutans

Sumatran orangutans inhabit northern Sumatra in isolated forest areas north of Lake Toba.

Populations

Orangutans are classified as endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Orangutans are listed in Appendix I of CITES.

A 2004 population estimate of Bornean orangutans was about 57,000.

A 2004 population estimate of Sumatran orangutans was about 7,300. This subspecies is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.