Orang utans are only
endemic to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. This animal have been recorded to be found
to a high altitude of about 2400m (from Mt. Kinabalu). It is a large primate, the adult
male (above 15 years) stands about 1.4 metre tall, weighing up to 50 - 100 kg. Females may
weigh between 34 - 40 kg. Orang utans make nests in the trees out of twigs, leaves and
small branches in which they sleep in at night. Usually they make a new nest every
aflernoon, sometimes resting during the day. Orang utans are solitary animal and their
main diet consists of fruits, leaves, barks, shoots and birds' egg. Occasionally, they
would come down to the ground to look for insects and termites. Orang utans are believed
to live between 35 to 40 years or more and during her life span and adult female may give
birth to 3 or 4 young with an average of one infant in every 4 years. Gestation period is
about 9 months.
The young are slow growing and takes about 5 - 7 years before they
become entirely independent and at least 7 -10 years before they are sexually matured.
The orang utan is one of the world's endangered species. In Sabah, the
widespread destruction of its habitat is the principle cause of its declining population.
For its survival, the orang utan appears dependent on primary forest and much of this rich
forest have been exploited for plantation areas. As a result, the orang utan have been
driven from their natural habitat and forced into areas, such as mountainous regions, that
do not contain suffcientfood. The slow and normally rather ponderous movements of the
orang utans also put them at a disadvantage on the ground as they are an easy target to
hunters. The orang utan is a remarkably quiet and inoffensive creature and is one of the
protected primates in Sabah. At present, the Sabah Wildlife Department has taken steps to
translocate orang utans from logging camps and estates to other wildlife sanctuaries
throughout the state.
Source : Wildlife of Sabah In Danger, Sepilok
Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Sabah Wildlife Department, 1993.
Orang utans are only
endemic to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. This animal have been recorded to be found
to a high altitude of about 2400m (from Mt. Kinabalu). It is a large primate, the adult
male (above 15 years) stands about 1.4 metre tall, weighing up to 50 - 100 kg. Females may
weigh between 34 - 40 kg. Orang utans make nests in the trees out of twigs, leaves and
small branches in which they sleep in at night. Usually they make a new nest every
aflernoon, sometimes resting during the day. Orang utans are solitary animal and their
main diet consists of fruits, leaves, barks, shoots and birds' egg. Occasionally, they
would come down to the ground to look for insects and termites. Orang utans are believed
to live between 35 to 40 years or more and during her life span and adult female may give
birth to 3 or 4 young with an average of one infant in every 4 years. Gestation period is
about 9 months.