Orangutans are known as the largest ape in
Asia. There are two kinds of subspecies orangutans, one native to Sumatra,
and the other Borneo. Both inhabit primarily tropical rain forests, where
they prefer soft fruits such as figs, and durians. Durians are a hard-shelled
fruit that have a soft fruit inside with a bitter taste, which orangutans
love. Orangutans also eat leaves, shoots, bark, squrriels, birds and bird
eggs.
During the day these reddish apes decent to
the ground. At night they make a leafy bed/nest high up into the trees.
They are relatively unsocial. The male screams or bellows, so any animal
could hear him. This lets other orangutans know a predator is near.
Their sound can carry up to a half a mile.
Orangutans can weigh up to 170-220 lbs. or
more. Female orangutans can take up to ten years to mature, and have the
longest birth interval of any primate species, ranging from five to eight
years. Because of this, their reproductive output is very limited during
the course of their twenty-two period of fertility. Baby orangutans keep
close to their moms till they’re about 11 months old. The orangutans have
long arms to help them swing from the trees and short legs for walking
when the orangutans descend the forest floor.