All About OrangutansA teaching resource for elementary school-aged children

By: Amber Jones

Let’s meet some orangutans.

Butet

Tom

Akmad & Baby Atlas

Orangutans are Great Apes.

• Mammals• Big bodies• Opposable

thumbs• Smart• Tool users• Bendy lips• Endangered

Do you know the difference? Apes • No tail• Larger brains• Longer lives• Great Apes: Africa

and Asia• Lesser Apes: Asia

Monkeys • Tail • Not as large brains• Don’t live as long• Old-world: Africa and Asia• New-world: Central and

South America

Sumatra Borneo

Orangutans live in Southeast Asia.

Canada

Orangutans live in the rainforest. So do lots of other things!

Orangutans live in trees. Climbing is easy for orangutans.

They have long arms and thumbs on their feet.

But Orangutans aren’t always in trees.Bornean Orangutan Sumatran Orangutan

Males are larger than females.

Orangutans live in small family groups.

• Mom• Kid• Baby

• Neighbors:– Sisters– Cousins

Orangutans are frugivores.

But they also eat:• Fruit• Leaves• Flowers• Tree bark• Seeds• Honey• Insects• Small animals• Bird eggs

Orangutans spend most of their time resting, traveling, and eating.

Every night they make nests.

Orangutans make and use tools.• Umbrella-hats• Scratching sticks

• Dipping tools• Fruit-openers

Siswi makes a leaf hat.

Orangutans are an Endangered Species.

• Problem: Loss of habitat• Solution: Protect their habitat

Orangutans are not good pets.• Problem: Illegal Pets• Solution: Rehabilitation

Orangutans can be rehabilitated.

MU used to live in a cage.

Now he lives in the forest.

What did we learn today?

If you want to learn more….

• Information on orangutans and conservation, check out: – Borneo Orangutan Society Canada– Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme

• Information about popular apes, check out:– Koko the gorilla – Kanzi the bonobo– Chantek the orangutan