The Borneo Orangutan is one of our closest living relatives on the planet today. It is estimated that Orangutans share 97% of their DNA with humans. We say Orangutans, rather than just the Borneo Orangutan, because there are more species of these animals than just the Borneo Orangutan. There are two other species of Orangutan in the world today - the Sumatran Orangutan and the Tapanuli Orangutan.
All three species of Orangutans have vastly different populations in the wild today. Out of the three, the Tapanuli Orangutan is the rarest and most endangered Orangutan, as there are only thought to be 800 Tapanuli Orangutans left in the wild today. The Sumatran Orangutan has the second biggest population of Orangutans in the world today - their population is a lot bigger than the Tapanuli Orangutan, there are thought to be just over 13,000 Sumatran Orangutans in the world today. And finally, the Borneo Orangutan is the most populous Orangutan species.
What Is The Population Of Borneo Orangutans?
Borneo Orangutans have a much larger population than the two other species of Orangutans.
It is estimated that there are 104,700 Borneo Orangutans in the wild today. This is a significant decline in their population since the 1970s. It is estimated that this animal has seen their population decline by more than half in the last 60 years. In 1973, it was estimated that there were 288,500 Borneo Orangutans, therefore, two-thirds of the Borneo Orangutan population has disappeared since the 1970s.
What Threats Do These Animals Face?
A major reason why these animals have declined so rapidly in just a few decades is due to their habitat - the Borneo rainforest, being destroyed.
The Borneo rainforest has seen 30% of its rainforest destroyed since the 1970s. The destruction of this rainforest has played a major role in the decline of Borneo Orangutans and is still a threat posed to these animals today. The rainforest is being destroyed for several different reasons. One of the main reasons that this rainforest is being destroyed is to make way for palm oil plantations - palm oil plantations are used to grow palm oil, which takes up a significant amount of land, the palm oil is then used in items that we consume daily such as in foods and toiletries.
Other threats that are destroying this rainforest include illegal logging, forest fires, and mining. The destruction of this rainforest is a threat to Borneo Orangutans because it either ends up killing the Orangutans when the forest is cleared or results in there being less space for Orangutans to live, therefore, less rainforest space for these animals means fewer animals.
Another major threat to Borneo Orangutans is the illegal wildlife trade. The illegal wildlife trade is a threat to these animals because people capture baby Orangutans from the wild and sell them as pets in Asia (the Borneo rainforest is on an island in Asia, which is shared by both Indonesia and Malaysia). It is estimated that hundreds of baby Orangutans every year are stolen from the wild and sold off into the illegal pet trade. With hundreds of baby Orangutans being stolen every year for the illegal pet trade, it results in fewer Orangutans growing up in the wild, and therefore, there are fewer Orangutans to reproduce and carry on the species for future generations.
What Is The Conservation Status Of Borneo Orangutans?
Borneo Orangutans are critically endangered today.
Being critically endangered means that these animals are more vulnerable to extinction than endangered species. Being critically endangered is one step away from being extinct.
What Is The Population Trend Of Borneo Orangutans?
Sadly, the population of Borneo Orangutans is decreasing today.
What Is The Habitat Of Borneo Orangutans?
These animals only have one habitat: they live in rainforests.
What Kingdom Do These Animals Belong To?
They belong to the Animalia kingdom, which is the animal kingdom.
What Family Do They Belong To?
They belong to the Hominidae family, which consists of the world's ape species and humans.
What Is Their Scientific Name?
The scientific name for Borneo Orangutans is Pongo pygmaeus.
Fun Fact
Orangutan means man of the forest.
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