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ORANGUTAN FACTS  
Released:  2/1/2008 11:23:06 AM
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ADOPT BABY ORANGUTANS.. ORANGUTANS SEXUAL.. BORNEAN ORANGUTAN.. ORANGUTAN ISLAND..


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ADOPT BABY ORANGUTANS
Adopt baby orangutans - Did you know that it costs over $2,000 a year to rescue, rehabilitate and release each orangutan, so your money is desperately needed to continue the work. Over 800 rescued orangutans are looked after by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation at centers like Nyaru Menteng.

adopt baby orangutan

By adopting an orangutan, you are helping to provide care not only for your orangutan, but for all the orangutan orphans that are looked after by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. Each adoption offers real care to real orphaned orangutans. You can make a difference to an orangutan. You can give orangutans a future. With your help, we can give these orangutans a future.

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ORANGUTANS SEXUAL
Orangutans Sexual - research has estimated that, in the wild, infant mortality is low and that the majority of orang utans live for at least 40 years. In captivity, where the potential lifespan is 50 to 60 years, 80% die before 25 years and 90% before 30 years.

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In size, the orangutans is the second largest ape and is markedly sexually dimorphic. Males are approximately twice the weight of females (Mackinnon 1979). In the immature animals and the adult females, the hair is always straight, but in the adult males the hair on the shoulders, back and upper arms may become extremely long and wavy and even curly in some individuals (Markham 1990). On average wild females weigh approximately 38 kg and are 1.16m in height. Wild males weigh approximately 86 kg and are 1.40m in height. Some years after maturity, the gular sack of the adult males, which is present in all orang utans from birth, becomes very large and pendulous and large cheek flanges develop. The gular or throat sack plays a role in the production of the male 'Long Call', which is possibly used to attract females as well as advertise territories to rival males. A sagittal crest develops in most adult males, but not in females. Study on Orangutans showed adult female orang utans have a core range of two to three km². (The core area is an area a female orang utan nests in and uses more intensively and to the exclusion of any other female). The adult female's home range is between 5-6km². This home range overlaps with home ranges of other females and provides sufficient food resources for a year-round supply for her and up to two dependent offspring. Because daughters move out gradually into adjacent ranges to their mothers, the neighbouring females in any given area are usually related. Adolescent males leave their mothers’ home range and travel long distances into territories new to them. This results in the adult males in an area being unlikely to be related to the resident females.

orangutans picture

In a particular area, adult males are either resident or nomadic. Studies also found resident adult males may move away from their home ranges when all the resident females have young infants (i.e. unable to become pregnant) and there were seasonal food shortages. The adult resident male's home range (at least 10km²) takes in part the home ranges of up to five adult females and occasionally may overlap with home ranges of other resident adult males. Adult resident males do not appear to maintain a core range.
The extreme sexual dimorphism in orang utans suggests a polygynous mating system with inter-male competition for both territory and females. The resident adult male tries to maximise his reproductive potential by following a ranging pattern, which contacts as many females as possible, while excluding other adult males from his home range.
As young males leave the maternal range, they are subject to an increased mortality in unfamiliar territory. Young females are exposed to fewer risks by moving gradually into neighbouring territories. This difference in potential risk reduces the ratio of males to females by the time they reach adulthood. Subadult males will follow adult females to gain access to their food resources, while becoming familiar with the territory and the resident females. They engage in forcible copulation with the adult females as a haphazard attempt at reproduction and a method of establishing dominance. As most copulations are performed by subadult orangutans males concluded that subadult males were the main sires in the population and the less sexually active adult males acted as guardians to the offspring within their home ranges. At the subadult stage females begin to establish a relationship with the resident adult male through periodic consortships. Although subadult orangutans males perform most copulations, adult females enter consortships with adult males for a few days during periods of receptivity. Adult females are usually either suckling an infant or pregnant, in which case they are not ovulating, or they are receptive and consorting with an adult male. Subadult males, therefore, have little chance of impregnating an adult female. In forced copulations, it is unlikely that transmission of semen is achieved, as this requires cooperation from the adult female.

orangutans picture

In areas of overlapping home ranges, close kinship of neighbouring female orang utans allows them to tolerate each other while exploiting seasonal food sources, such as in large fruiting trees. It has been observed that in such gatherings of females and their offspring in large fruiting trees, there is never more than one adult male present and the only physical contact is between infants. Usually seasonal food sources are likely to be exploited by consecutive visits of female orang utans and their dependent off spring.
As adult males are unrestricted by dependent young, they are generally able to forage over larger areas than females. Competition for resources between adult males and females is restricted, because of temporal and spatial separation. Males generally forage lower in the tree canopy. The restriction of competition for resources from resident adult males may maximise the survival opportunities of infants the male has sired within the region. In addition the resident male's presence restricts the utilisation of food resources by other adult males.
In periods of scarcity the greater mobility of the adult male allows him to exploit distance resources away from his home ranges, possibly leaving the area entirely. In the opposite case when resources are plentiful, there is often an influx of nomadic males into the area. Adult males eat more animal protein (such as ants and termites), are less selective and spend far more time foraging on the ground than adult females. The exploitation of slightly different ecological niches again reduces competition and effectively reduces the time adult males and females can associate with each other without reducing their foraging efficiency. Adult males may leave their resident ranges for a few years when all the females in their range have infants. This also removes pressure on female resources.

In the wild menarche (first menstruation) for female orang utans usually does not occur until twelve years of age. There appears to be a period of infertility after the onset of menarche and wild females on average do not give birth to their first offspring until fifteen years of age. In captivity female orang utans have been known to enter menarche as early as seven years of age with pregnancy and birth of their first offspring shortly after. Wild female orang utans have an interbirth interval of six to eight years. The period of postpartum amenorrhoea, which lasts for five to seven years appears to correspond to the period of infant suckles. Due to hand-raising of infants in zoos and the practice of housing males and females in the same enclosure, the interbirth interval of captive females is usually reduced.

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BORNEAN ORANGUTAN
Bornean Orangutan Briefly In A Sight Inspection

Author: Susan Davis

bornean orangutan

I've embark on a journey of jet-lag so hard core, it could challenge an astronaut. Borneo beckons because I've never been there. A mere 5 hours to LAX, 12 to Tokyo, 7 to Singapore and 3 to Kota. Mind you this is just one way not including layover times.

Seated in economy class, I expect my body will dehydrate to a prune, my muscles atrophy, pores clog and I'll bloat with "jet belly" but it's ok. Bottom line is, I love airplanes. The near insanity of this that it's only a 5 day visit and I'm spending nearly as much time on land as I will in the air.

The best perk of my job are the site inspections, that is to witness first hand what my groups will experience if a destination is new to me. This is far on my globe. Prior to departure, I surveyed friends asking them, "Where is Borneo?" Only 10% answered correctly. This time I bring Terry and wonder of his fortitude in tow. But he proves to be a good aviation warrior.

On our arrival flight in, I see gleaming white beaches, turquoise reefs and coconut trees that spread out as far as the eye can see. At the airport, we are greeted by Martin who will oversee us and answer the 7,000 questions I've prepared on this land. It's sauna hot.

We head out past cocoa and tea plantations for our first resort stay at Shangri La Tanjung Aru, an oasis of luxury right on the South China Sea. In the distance are 5 coral islands. A short jetty ride will deposit you to any one for snorkeling the sea caves and world-class diving. Further out is Pulau Tiga with its mud volcanoes where the first Survivor series was shot.

Here we're spoiled like a couple of pot bellied pigs with an upgraded suite with fruit and orchids as well as a beachside massage. I feel like I've reached Nirvana with a mantra of "I'm not worthy" but I revel in all the amenities. Its pure playtime with activities provided here. And the spectacular Malaysian buffet breakfasts should be filmed by the Food Channel.

orangutan bornean picture

Kota Kinabalu (aka KK) is the capital of Sabah with 340,000 inhabitants. My expectations of Borneo were of 5ft. monitor lizards and head hunting tribal chiefs, but here I'm greeted with Starbucks and mega-malls.

The city is worn and struggling hard to develop itself. Established by the British in 1881, it also has a lot WWII history. The city's backdrop is the breathtaking 13,600 ft. Mt. Kinabalu, UNESCO W.H. Site for being the most bio-diverse mountain on earth.

It holds a complete ecosystem and is a botanical paradise. There's an astonishing array of rare flora and fauna such as insect eating plants, funky fungi and raffelsia, the worlds largest flower of 3ft. petals. It takes 2 years to bud and lasts just 7 days.

The lush National Park is the size of Singapore. Hillside tribes reside on the slopes. The mountain is scared to them as they believe it is the resting place of their ancestors departed spirits.

For free time we tour museums, handicraft markets and water village. I buy gifts of pearls, organic teas, coffee, batik and baskets. As Americans, we feel like VIP tourists as most visitors are from Australia, UK, Japan and Europe.

bornean orangutan


The locals are so respectful and polite. There are 30 ethnic groups speaking 80 different languages who live harmoniously together. Many are animists who worship all living things. The main tribes are the Dusuns with their female priestesses, the Bajau's known as the "cowboys of the sea" and the Murats who live in typical longhouses. They are descendants of the famed head hunters who once fiercely protected their territories and decorated their homes with "trophies" that were severed heads of their invaders.

Many here look Polynesian. Bahasa Malay is the main language, a dialect that sounds to me like they're speaking in tongues. Second language is English.

In August I bring 2 groups here. We'll enter the interior to discover the essence of Borneo with its virgin rainforests, lush wetlands and enough wildlife to feel you've entered a living zoo.

We'll learn of the culture and history but the thrilling part for me will be seeing the rare species of pigmy elephants, Sumatra rhino, giant crocs, bearded pigs, gibbons, macaques and omni-present proboscis monkeys (the one's with Jimmy Duranti noses.)

The highlight will be Sepilok, the largest orangutan sanctuary where we can get close and personal with these "wild men of Borneo."

Evenings by the ocean here provide a surreal beauty that envelopes one in serenity and it's totally romantic. I hate to leave but it's time to visit another resort I have booked for my groups.

The Shangri La Rasa Ria is a slice of heaven where one can do nothing or everything. There's morning yoga, Tai Chi, golf, ATV's, horses, parasailing, a huge spa and more. Classes are given in Malay language, cooking, sarong wrapping, beading, blow pipes and weaving. But what makes this resort ultra-special is its Nature Reserve.

The hotel helps fund orphaned orangutans here. If the jungle continues to shrink, these gentile creatures will face extinction in the wild. Dr. Galdikas of OFI (Orangutan Foundation Int.) grimly predicts, "Unless extreme action is taken soon, these forests could be one in 5 to 7 years and the wild orangutan with them."

We attend a lecture by a ranger to learn about the "man of the jungle", world's second largest ape. Genetically they are 96.4% human and are considered the most sentimental creatures on earth. We are led by trail up mountain slopes to view 7 protected baby orangutans, most orphaned from illegal logging that destroyed their homes.

Unlike other primates, they prefer playing over fighting. "Limon" had a tough early life. His mother was killed and eaten by plantation workers. They kept him as a pet chained to the wall of a wooden crate for 4 years until Forest Police rescued him. When he arrived here, he was a sack of bones and dying.

For 10 days he refused to eat until one day, a sweet pineapple changed his life. He devoured it in entirety and since then, Limon hasn't stopped eating. Now he's 5 times heavier and stuffs himself silly. Upon graduation, he will be released back into the forest.

I look forward to my return and experiencing the real mystical Borneo. The best journey is always the one going home. As I board Singapore Airlines, I feel I've gained 6 kilos from all the seafood I consumed. I sleep like a baby on the long haul home via Taipei. The miracle of it all is that my checked luggage managed to follow me 19,000 miles roundtrip and the fact that I still love airplanes.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/briefly-in-borneo-a-sight-inspection-102492.html

About the Author:
Former Miss Wisconsin Suzy Davis has traveled the world for nearly 30 years,
initially as a flight attendant and now with her company

http://www.AdventuresForSingles.com

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ORANGUTAN ISLAND
orangutan island
orangutan island - The Bornean species of orangutans is highly endangered, and the Sumatran species is critically endangered, according to the IUCN Red List of mammals, and both are listed on Appendix I of CITES. The Borneo population is estimated at about 55,000 in the wild, while the Sumatran species is estimated at 7000 individuals. The orangutan is an official state animal of Sabah in Malaysia.

Orangutan habitat destruction due to logging, mining and forest fires has been increasing rapidly in the last decade. A major factor in that period of time has been the conversion of vast areas of tropical forest to oil palm plantations, for the production of palm oil. Some UN scientists believe that these plantations could lead to the extinction of the species by the year 2012. Much of this activity is illegal, occurring in national parks that are officially off limits to loggers, miners and plantation development. There is also a major problem with the poaching of baby orangutans for sale into the pet trade; the trappers usually kill the mother to steal the baby orangutan.

Major conservation centres in Indonesia include those at Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan, Kutai in East Kalimantan, Gunung Palung National Park in West Kalimantan, and Bukit Lawang in the Gunung Leuser National Park on the border of Aceh and North Sumatra. In Malaysia, conservation areas include Semenggoh Wildlife Centre in Sarawak and Matang Wildlife Centre also in Sarawak, and the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary near Sandakan in Sabah.

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BABY ORANGUTAN
baby orangutan -

baby orangutan picture

His tufts of hair sticking straight up and with what appears to be a big smile on his wrinkled little face, this baby orangutan is ready to take on the world.

Elmo is a baby orangutan just four days old, but he has already captured the hearts of his keepers in the animal hospital at Taman Safari in Bogor, West Java.

Wild populations of orangutans are found only in the tropical forests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, and all populations are under severe threat from habitat loss, illegal logging, fires and poaching. help those baby orangutan

baby orangutan


ORANGUTAN PICTURES
orangutan pictures
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Orangutan pictures - look at the orangutan pictures here. They are cute and need your help.
picture of orangutan
orangutan pictures
orangutan pictures
baby orangutan pictures
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orangutan pictures
orangutan picture
baby orangutan pictures

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ORANGUTANS
orangutans -
baby orangutan
Orangutans
Orangutans Order: Primates
Orangutans Family: Pongidae
Orangutans Genus and Species: Pongo pygmaeus (Bornean) and Pongo abelii (Sumatran)
The world's largest tree-dwelling animal, the orangutans relies upon its intelligence and well-adapted body to survive in the tropical rainforest.

Physical Description of orangutans
These orangish-red-haired great apes have long arms and curved hands and feet, which they put to good use when traversing the treetops. Older orangutans usually move through the trees on all fours, while young ones often brachiate, or swing hand over hand. Orangutans males have longer hair than females and disc-like cheek pads.

Both sexes of orangutans have throat pouches that make their calls resonate through the forest. The orangutan males pouches are more developed. Orangutans crush tough foliage and hard-shelled nuts with their strong teeth and jaws. Two species exist: P. pygmaeus of Borneo, and the Orangutan Sumatran species, P. abelii. Outside of their native ranges, they can be differentiated only through chromosomal or DNA analysis.
orangutans pictures
Size
Orangutan are Asia's largest primates. Orangutans males are about twice the size of females, standing four and a half feet tall and weighing 130 to 200 pounds. Orangutans females stand about two and a half feet tall and weigh 90 to 110 pounds. Zoo animals are often heavier.
orangutans picture

Geographic Distribution of orangutans
Once more widely distributed, orangutans now live only in forests on the Southeast Asian islands of Sumatra and Borneo

Is important to us to saving the live of orangutans


ORANGUTAN FACTS
orangutan facts -
orangutan facts

Orangutan facts - status of orangutan
The Orangutan Sumatran species is listed as critically endangered and the Bornean species is listed as endangered on the World Conservation Union's Red List of Threatened Animals.

Orangutan facts
- Habitat of Orangutan
Orangutans live in tropical rainforests, including hill forests and swamp forests.

Orangutan facts
- what do orangutans eat
Orangutans do eat primarily on forest fruits, including durians, jackfruits, lychees, mangos, and figs. Leaves and shoots make up the remainder of their diet, supplemented occasionally by small animals, tree bark, and soils rich in minerals. Researchers have documented more than 400 different foods eaten by wild orangutans.

Orangutan facts - Reproduction of Orangutan
Male orangutans establish home ranges that embrace those of several females. Orangutan females reach maturity at around ten years of age and can remain fertile for more than 30 years. Recent research suggests that, on average, wild females give birth only every eight years. Young orangutans may nurse until age six, and stay close to their mothers until the next offspring comes along.

Orangutan facts
- Life Span of orangutan
Orangutans may live about 35 years in the wild, and up to 60 in zoos.

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BORNIAN ORANGUTAN
Bornian Orangutan active during the day, bornian orangutans spend much of their lives high in the trees. Solitary, they rarely encounter others of their kind unless sharing a fruiting tree or mating. Each night, bornean orangutans bend branches into nest platforms that support the apes while they sleep in the trees.

bornian orangutan pictures


Bornean Orangutans move slowly through the forest, seeking fruiting trees, which they may find by following the movements of hornbills and other fruit-eaters. When heavily fruiting trees are found, bornean orangutans will spend many hours feeding.

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ENDANGERED ORANGUTAN
Endangered Orangutan - Once widespread in Asian tropical forests, orangutans now live only on Sumatra and Borneo, where forest loss is the greatest threat to their existence. Naturally occurring forest fires, and those set by farmers and large companies to clear the way for plantations of oil palm, fast-growing pulpwood, and other crops, devastate forests. The destruction spreads even further during dry years.

endangered orangutan pictures

In 1997, an area the size of New Jersey burned in Indonesia, and many of the fires occurred in orangutan habitat. Large reserves and strictly enforced wildlife protection laws are needed to keep orangutans safe from extinction. That is one factor that endangered orangutan


ORANGUTAN HABITAT
Orangutan habitat - The world's largest Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is located at Sepilok, Malaysia. It is an original orangutan habitat which is a 20-minute drive from Sandakan. More than 4,500 hectares of virgin jungle have been set aside here as a forest reserve and rehabilitation centre for orangutans which have been rescued from captivity or abandoned by their mothers from the original orangutan habitat.

orangutan habitat picture

Visitors can come in close contact with this remarkable "man of the forest" and photograph some of the mature females who have gotten so fond of human company that they refuse to go back to the wild orangutan habitat. There is also a platform to watch the orangutan come in from the forest for their rations of milk and bananas.

The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre was established in 1964 to return orphaned apes back to the wild orangutan habitat. The centre was being administered by the wildlife section of the Forestry Department which in 1988 was upgraded as a department under the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Development. All administration and management of this biggest orangutan habitat was given to the new Wildlife Department of Sabah.

orangutan habitat picture

The objectives of the project have expanded in recent years. While Orangutan rehabilita­tion is stilt the primary goal at Sepilok, present aims include public education on conservation, research and assistance to other endangered species such as captive breeding of the rare and endangered rhinoceros.

This centre is now under the supervision of more than 37 staff, including a Wildlife Officer who is also officer-in-charge of the centre, a veterinary doctor, wildlife rangers and general workers.

The centre has a reception centre, information centre, offices for wildlife staff, an animal clinic, quarantine area and enclosures for various animals such as the rhinoceros.
orangutan habitat picture
Sepilok, renowned for its orangutan rehabilitation project, has stimulated a greater local and international awareness of the protection laws for endangered species, and the Centre has resulted in an increase in detection and confiscation of illegally held captive animals.

The Sabah Orangutan Rehabilitation Project was originally proposed in 1961 by P.F. Burgess, then the Deputy Conservator of Forests. He was also responsible for the establishment of a game branch within the Forest Department and the drafting of the Fauna Conservation Ordinance, 1963.

orangutan habitat image

Soon afterwards, Barbara Harrisson, wife of the Curator of Sarawak Museum, began to rescue young orangutans being kept locally as pets, and the idea grew of training these animals to fend for themselves so that they might re-adapt to live in their own orangutan habitat.






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