Sumatran orangutan: description and photos

Orangutans are one of the most worldwide known and popular types of great apes. Scientists refer them, along with gorillas and chimpanzees, the closest animal to man. Currently known only two of these red apes-orangutan and Sumatran bernaski. In this article we consider in detail only the first one.

The Orangutan or the orangutan?

Some people believe that the pronunciation and spelling of the name of this monkey is entirely reduced to only one option – “APE”. Even text editors Microsoft “miss” the word, while the word "orangutan" accentuate the red. However, this spelling is incorrect.

The fact that the language of the population living on the Islands of Sumatra and Borneo, “APE” is a debtor, "orangutan" forest people, a forest dweller. That is why preference should be given to the second version of the name of the beast, even despite the fact that some text editors still “believe” his writing is incorrect.

Where to catch this monkey?

The Sumatran Orangutan, a photo of which you can see in our article, dwells throughout the Islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan. However, the vast majority of these monkeys is found in the Northern part of Sumatra. Their favourite habitats are the tropical forests and jungles.

Sumatran orangutan. Description of the view

It is believed that these apes have their African counterparts – the gorillas. Maybe so, but that's simian traits in orangutans is much more pronounced than that of the gorillas. For example, the front legs have red monkey long, and back – significantly shorter than their African relatives. Hands and feet with long curved fingers orangutans play the role of a hooks.

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With his fingers curve easily Sumatran orangutan clings to branches and picks a delicious fruit, but we'll talk about that later. Unfortunately, for the most difficult actions of his limbs are not adapted. As for the size of these monkeys, the adult male orangutan its dimensions are inferior to the gorillas, and they weigh less. Sumatran orangutan, the weight of which does not exceed 135 pounds, can reach a height of only 130 cm.

However, if you do not compare the sizes of orangutans with the size of gorillas, it is quite impressive apes: the length of their hand span – 2.5 meters, and the body – massive and dense, completely overgrown with red hair, hanging in clumps. Sumatran orangutan, whose head has a round face with swollen cheeks, turning into a funny "beard" and makes peculiar sounds which we will learn about next.

Why “sweat” Sumatran orangutans?

The Researchers observe the behavior and lifestyle of the Sumatran orangutans have noticed that these monkeys constantly and I sigh. One day, the famous zoologist and Professor Nikolai Drozdov, studying these animals in one of his TV shows, said: “He was wheezing like an old man in pain. But he's not a man, and he doesn't get hurt. He – big monkey”.

It is Curious that the throat pouch of these animals is inflated, like a balloon, making squishing sounds, gradually turning into a deep guttural groaning. These sounds cannot be confused with any other. To hear them you can even for a mile!

The lifestyles of orangutans

The Average life expectancy of these animals – about 30 years, the maximum – 60 years. The red “old people" prefer to live alone. If you ever happen to meet a small group of Sumatran orangutans, you should know that this is not a clan of monkeys, but only the female with her offspring. Speaking of which, the female, facing each other, trying as soon as possible to disperse, pretending that they don't see each other.

As for the males, here is the case, of course, more complicated. Each adult Sumatran orangutan has its own territory, on which live several females. The fact that the males of these monkeys – polygamous creatures and prefer to have a harem. The owner of the territory with loud cries warned of strangers, wandered in his possession. If the alien is not going to leave, begins the showdown.

This Happens in a rather unusual way. Both orangutan, as if on cue, rush to the nearest tree and frantically start to shake. This is reminiscent of a circus: the trees are shaking, the leaves they fall, the heart-rending cries are heard throughout the County. This view continues for quite a long time until one of the contestants not to lose their nerve. Usually losing sumatrensis male orangutan rips off the throat and order gets tired.

A Major part of life runs red monkeys in trees. Sleep they are also high above the ground, after arranging a comfortable bed. It should be noted that the Sumatran orangutan – it is a rather peaceful animal. However, as we know, this principle does not apply to their relatives: the fight for territory between themoccur on a regular basis.

What to eat these monkeys?

In principle, the Sumatran orangutan (photos of these monkeys usually cause a lot of experience) – vegetarian. So they are happy to eat mangoes, plums, bananas, figs.

Thanks to the incredible strength and other physical data, these monkeys are quite deftly climb the highest trees of the tropical Islands for a favourite treat-mango. If, for example, the upper tree branches thin, red-haired anthropoid APE of impressive size sits quietly in the middle of the crowns of the trees, bending branches to itself. Unfortunately, by the trees this is harmful: the branches are broken and withered.

Orangutans living on the island of Kalimantan, quickly gaining weight. And because summer is here – a favorable time for red "forest dwellers". The abundance of tropical fruits allows the apes to not only rapidly gain weight, but to store fat for the rainy season, when you have to eat only bark and leaves.

Population of orangutans

As mentioned above, in nature there are two types of these monkeys: bernacki and Sumatran orangutan. The number of these animals over the past 75 years, unfortunately, decreased in 4 times. The main factors influencing their population, are:

• Permanent pollution of the environment;
• Illegal catching of young animals and selling them.

Moreover, populations of these animals is highly dependent on the state of the tropics in which they live. This is why we need to stop the widespread cutting of jungles and rain forests, which leads to the death of orangutans. Currently, these monkeys there are only about 5 thousand individuals. If time does not take measures for their protection, they could disappear from the face of the Earth forever.