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