Free images of Sumatran Orangutan

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The Sumatran Orangutans are located in the Indomalaya Section of the Toronto Zoo

Asia’s great ape, the Orangutan, has recently been re-classified as belonging to two species:  the Pongo pygmaeus from Borneo and the Pongo abelii from Sumatra .  Under the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Sumatran orangutan is classified as critically endangered.  The Bornean is listed as endangered.  

The main reason for the decline in Orangutan numbers is a decline in the loss of their tropical forest habitats.  There are only slightly different physical characteristics between the two classifications.  The Sumatran Orangutans eat more fruits and have demonstrated the use of tools.  

The images below are of Sumatran Orangutans, and while I was photographing them, I observed their high intelligence as I watched them search for a stick and then use the stick to get access to a food that had been placed by zookeepers in a plastic container.  The young Orangutan used the stick to stir the contents of the container, removed the stick, and then licked the food source.   

Image at right:  Toronto Zoo Orangutan

The Toronto Zoo was host to two mothers, each with an infant.  Much activity centered around a blue blanket under which both youngsters hid.  One suddenly grabbed the blanket and a chase ensued around their entire enclosure with the blue blanket seeming to be a very desired acquisition.  This behaviour continued until the blanket accidentally fell into some water at the bottom of their enclosure, which somehow diminished its value for the apes.  The mothers were very caring for their young.  At a previous visit, I watched as a mother Orangutan was given a bottle of milk formula for her young.  She took the bottle from the zookeeper, tasted it first, and then proceeded to feed her baby.

Female orangutan raise their offspring alone, caring for them for about five years.  They have their first infants sometime between the age of 12 and 15.  Life expectancy for Orangutans is about 45 years.  

Want to know more?  Why not visit the Zoo’s website 
and read all about Sumatran Orangutans here.

If you’d like to learn more about the Orangutan and the Rainforest conservation, you can download Free PDF Factsheets from the Orangutan Foundation at: 

http://www.orangutan.org.uk/about-orangutans/downloads

Toronto Zoo Sumatran Orangutan - 1
One of the mother apes.

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Toronto Zoo Sumatran Orangutan - 2
The young apes enjoyed climbing, swinging and chasing each other.

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Toronto Zoo Sumatran Orangutan - 3

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Toronto Zoo Sumatran Orangutan - 4
I'm sure I can hear him thinking "What to do next?"

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Toronto Zoo Sumatran Orangutan - 5

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► Did you know... 

that Orangutans are omnivores which means that they eat both plants and animals?  Their favourite foods, however, are fruits.

Toronto Zoo Sumatran Orangutan - 6  (Black & White)

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Toronto Zoo Sumatran Orangutan - 7
This young ape found a stick and used it as a tool to poke into the plastic containers
in order to retrieve a food treat.

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Toronto Zoo Sumatran Orangutan - 8
One of the young apes playing with objects in his enclosure.

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Toronto Zoo Sumatran Orangutan - 9
"Now I'm bored!"

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Toronto Zoo Sumatran Orangutan - 10
"I'm still bored!"

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