Orang Utan, Sepilok

Bornean Orang-Utan – Sabah, Borneo’s Most Famous Resident

Perhaps more than any other animal, the Orang Utan is synonymous with Borneo. The Bornean Orang-utan is endemic to Borneo. Here it can be found in lowland and medium elevation rainforest.

紅毛猩猩復育中心

The Orang Utans appeal is instant. Look into an infant orang-utans face and it is like looking in to a child’s eyes. We share over 96% of our DNA with orang-utans, so they may not be our closest relative but they are close enough.

The Orang Utan is primarily tree dwelling (it is the world’s largest tree dwelling animal). It’s forearms are 30% longer than its legs and both hands and feet are equally adept at gripping.

They can travel large areas in one day foraging for food – on average around 1,000m a day. They are solitary creatures and will travel alone, except when with offspring.

Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary

Female Orang utans breed for the first time between 12 – 15 years. Males become sexually mature at a similar age but will not be dominant enough to be chosen for mating at this age. A female Orang-utan is highly selective when choosing a partner to mate with. She is more likely to accept dominant males with fully developed cheek flanges and a throat pouch.

Females give birth to a single offspring every 7 – 8 years. Their offspring do not become fully independent from their mother until they are at least seven years of age, sometimes as late as ten years. Whilst a female Orang Utan may live up to 40 years she will only produce a maximum of 4 surviving offspring in her lifetime. This is the slowest breeding rate of any primate – and why the Orang-utan population only recovers slowly.

In Sabah, Borneo there are a few of places where you may see Orang Utans:

• Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre – here you will have guaranteed sightings of this amazing ape.
• Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary – you may see a wild Orang Utan as you go on a river cruise late afternoon along the Kinabatangan River.
• Gomantong Caves Reserve – you may see them in the rain forest as you walk to / from the caves.
• Danum Valley – you may see them in the rain forest near the Borneo Rainforest Lodge

If you would like to arrange a trip to have a chance to see Orang Utans during your holiday to Sabah, Borneo then please contact the Borneo Dream team. We can recommend the best trip(s) for you.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 at 1:06 am and is filed under Gomantong Caves, Kinabatangan River, Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary, Wildlife Trips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.