Sumatran orangutan
Status
Critically Endangered
Classification
Mammal
Exhibit
PECO Primate Reserve
Living Life in the Trees
Sumatran orangutans are among the largest of all living primates and are the largest arboreal animal in the world. Native to northern Indonesia, orangutans spend most of their time high in the trees; they are the most arboreal of the great apes. The word orangutan is derived from the official language of Malaysia, and translates as 'person of the forest'.
Saving the Species
Sumatran orangutans are among the most critically endangered primates in the world, with issues including human encroachment and habitat destruction. Today, there is an estimated 14,000 Sumatran orangutans in the wild, with numbers continuing to drop at an alarming rate. Scientists estimate that 80% of orangutan habitat has been destroyed over the last 20 years, with no end in sight.
In 2017, Philadelphia Zoo began a partnership with International Animal Rescue (IAR), an organization that rescues and relocates orangutans and other species who are threatened by habitat destruction and illegal pet trafficking.
Adopt a Sumatran Orangutan
By adopting a Philadelphia Zoo animal, you share your love for animals by helping ours receive the best possible care.
Adopt a Sumatran Orangutan
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